IN five short years flaxen haired Hannah Wendy Tarplee brought great joy and happiness to her whole family.

Her life was filled to the brim, enjoying ballet, swimming and with a great eagerness to learn.

She was devoted to her brother George, aged three, and was on the verge of a great future.

But last October, Hannah, who had just completed her first half term as a pupil at Hereford Cathedral Junior School, was diagnosed with an illness which ended her school days.

She fought valiantly through more than six months of treatment but finally lost the battle last Friday when she died at her home at St Mary's Park, Burghill, with her family around her.

This week her parents Simon and Wendy paid tribute to their daughter's courage during the last few months and her constant thoughtfulness for others, even on her worst days.

They are filled with grief but are sustained by the memories of a very happy child who was the hub of their family life.

There were her days at Paintpots playgroup at Burghill and her excitement at starting school.

She loved ballet at Hereford Academy of Dance and swam like a fish.

Her father Simon, a consultant in IT, said Hannah loved learning, had a great vocabulary, was inquisitive and a great reader.

Simon and Wendy said their daughter had been the natural leader in their whole family and seemed to be older than her years, earning her father's nickname 'old fogy'.

Hannah's funeral will take place at Hereford Cathedral tomorrow (Friday) at 2.15pm. Her parents have chosen a traditional service to mark a very sad occasion and it will be followed by private cremation.