TRIBUTES have been paid to the oldest Girl Guide in the Eastern Valley, following her funeral.

Muriel Briggs, 97, from Griffithstown passed away peacefully on July 15. She celebrated over 60 years with the girl guides in 2010.

Irene Morgan, 68, the current guider of the 1st Griffithstown Guides Unit called her "instrumental to the group".

“Girl Guides really was part of her life," said Ms Morgan, who took over the leadership role in 1996.

“She kept the unit running for the benefit of local girls, and she worked really hard."

Ms Briggs' funeral took place at Griffithstown Congregational Church.

Councillor Mary Barnett attended the service, which was conducted by Reverend Keith Lamb, with organist Margaret Cook.

She said it was one of “joy, celebrating the life of a most remarkable Torfaen lady."

"She had a great sense of humour," Ms Barnett added.

Ms Briggs first became involved in girl guides while living in Worcester in 1943.

She started a division there in 1943, before moving back to Griffithstown.

In 1947 she restarted Panteg Guides and was guider of 1st Griffithstown Guides from 1948 to 1983.

During this time she held several other posts and after retiring she attended many camps teaching woodcraft skills and nature activities.

She then went onto start the local Trefoil division for members of any age who want to support the local girl guide groups in the area by offering advice and helping on outings, and she still attending monthly meetings up to her death.

She enjoyed a career as a pharmacist working in Griffithstown and juggled that with running the local guides group.

She was also said to have been a faithful member of Griffithstown Congregational Church, serving in many roles.

Ms Briggs got her first Girl Guide badge from a camping trip to Castlemorton, Worcestershire, where she had to pitch her own tent.

Over the years she kept a large blanket and a camp dressing gown, made by her mother from an army blanket, that were both covered in her badges.

Incredibly, Ms Briggs was the guider of the Griffithstown unit when Mrs Morgan joined, aged 11.

The unit is still going strong, with Ms Morgan now at the helm. It will mark its 100th year in 2017.

She will be sadly missed by family, friends and her associates in the Guiders Association.