MORE than 80 people turned up for a service and lunch to say thank you to Betty Arnett for playing the organ at Stoke Lacy Church for 60 years.

And it is likely she had a musical connection with each of them, providing the church music for their family occasions such as marriages, christening and funerals over six decades.

Mrs Arnett has hardly ever missed playing the organ at a Sunday service and has no plans to retire at the moment.

At the celebratory event at the church she was presented with a gold and silver brooch made in the shape of a musical score. Engraved on the back are the words "Betty Arnett our organist for 60 years''.

Villagers and friends donated the money to pay for the gift, made by artist Clare de la Torre, who lives at The Courtyard in Stoke Lacy.

The design, she said, was inspired by Mrs Arnett's music.

So much money was raised there was enough over for church warden Henry Hodges to present her with a cheque for £200, at the same time thanking her on behalf of Stoke Lacy for her dedication to the church.

Responding, Mrs Arnett recalled that at the age of four she was sitting at the piano in the rectory when the Rector, Henry Morgan, suggested to her mother that she should learn to play the organ to become the church organist.