THE widow of the former Dean of Winchester, who died recently has herself passed away.

Tessa Till, 76, died only weeks after the sudden death of her husband Michael, 77, who was dean from 1996 to 2005.

Although very ill she had attended his funeral in Winchester Cathedral in December.

The present dean, the Very Rev James Atwell, said today: “As well as being the ‘hostess’ at the Deanery, Tessa had very specific interests of her own. She worked for l’Arche, which serves communities across the world for people with learning disabilities and she was a founder member of the Emmaus Community in Winchester, which continued into retirement.

“She was a keen and knowledgeable gardener, as was evident in her tireless work on the Deanery Garden, which she often opened in aid of charity. She was a colourful character who fought her illness with typical determination,” he added.

Her funeral will be in the cathedral on Friday February 1, at 2.30pm.