THERE was standing room only at St Stephen’s Church, Cinderford, for the funeral of much-loved former Sunday school teacher and The Forester proof reader, Sheila Moore.

More than 300 mourners, including newspaper colleagues, said farewell to the 76-year-old mother and grandmother, who died on December 27 after battling cancer.

Her sons Anthony and Andrew paid tribute to their mother, who was born and brought up in the town she loved and where she lived with husband Gerald who succeeds her.

She attended East Dean Grammar School and went on to secretarial college, working initially for the National Coal Board and later as a proof reader on The Forester when it was based in Woodside Street.

Conducting the service, vicar Mike Barnsley said Sheila had served as a Sunday School teacher for a remarkable 35 years and also played a key role in the Benefice Mothers’ Union.

The church played a very significant part in her life, he said, and Sheila had chosen the readings and hymns for her funeral before her death.

St Stephen’s Benefice Choir sang a beautiful rendering of ‘Amazing Grace’ before her wicker coffin covered in flowers was carried from the church for a private cremation.

The wake was held at The White Hart and donations in memory of Sheila were for the Dilke Hospital and St Stephen’s Church.

Former Forester editor Viv Hargreaves said: “Sheila was always happy and smiling. She was a joy to work with and she will be sorely missed by the community at large.”