So, having played golf for a number of years, Melva had a 'good eye'. This gave her a great grounding in playing croquet; Melva would saunter up to a shot with a glint in her eye and very rarely missed the target.

In her later years Melva would play 'the old lady card', angling for an advantage, but her accuracy was never underestimated.

As a result, her name has been emblazoned on many trophies for golf croquet. Melva did love coming to the croquet luncheon days, where she kept all of us amused with her tales tall and true.

Melva was a very keen gardener and many of her croquet friends have a cutting or two from her garden.

I still have her recipe for bread and butter pudding (an especially favourite dish of one of her sons, so was I told).

Just days before Melva took ill we all had a lively luncheon of some delicious curry, after which a few of the group went on to a game of Hoy at the CWA venue.

Melva delighted in regaling the next day at morning tea after golf croquet how she had won two hands of Hoy; the grin on her face showed how much she loved life.

Melva has been an inspiration to all of us, not the least of which was in attaining a great age with fun, knowledge, caring and friendship. We miss you deeply, oh smiling arch-rival.