For more than half a century Elsie Nash devoted her time and passion to the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Mrs Nash, who has died, aged 92, was made an OBE for her outstanding service to the charity.

Among national offices she held over the years, Mrs Nash was chairman of the legion's women's section, acting chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, and remained a vice president until her death. She also held many local and county RBL posts.

She frequently left her Worstead home to travel to London and all over the UK for meetings and conferences.

Born in Norwich in 1923, the young Elsie worked for insurance company General Accident after leaving school.

During the Second World War she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women's branch of the British Army.

She worked in the department for the procurement of food for the Army, a post which proved very useful when it came to sending the odd parcel home to her parents.

Elsie met her husband Bill through one of her work colleagues at General Accident. They married in 1947 and had one son, Trevor. The devoted couple had been together for 67 years when Mr Nash died in July.

Locally, Mr and Mrs Nash raised funds for the legion by serving tea and homemade cakes from an old caravan which was set up every Friday at the auctioneer's sale ground in North Walsham.

Mrs Nash was also very involved with Halsey House in Cromer, an RBL care home for ex-service men and women and their dependents.

She promoted the home whenever she could and encouraged local legion branches to support it with donations.

Her deep knowledge of the RBL's workings meant that she was thought of as a mother figure on Halsey House's committee and could advise on making sure residents received any monies to which they were entitled.

Mr and Mr Nash were also Poppy Appeal organisers and every October they would take delivery of poppies from the factory, sort them into boxes and deliver them to collectors all over the area.

In her spare time she supported Norwich City FC and kept a number of pet donkeys.

A thanksgiving service will be held at St Nicholas Church, North Walsham on Thursday December 17 at 11.30am.