A “SELFLESS and intelligent” woman who dedicated her life to the Royal British Legion has died aged 92.

Joan Powell started out at as chairperson of the women’s section and served on several committees, but is best known for taking on and running the Poppy Appeal for Taunton’s Royal British Legion Club.

Her daughter, Marilyn, said: “Joan was one of a kind and we shall not see the like of her again.

“She was selfless and intelligent, and it was always a case of service, not self.

“She raised a lot of money for the Poppy Appeal and she only gave it up four years ago.

“She could be quite feisty, but you had to be when she started out, especially if you were a woman!”

Joan met her husband, Bill, Marilyn’s father, through the Royal British Legion, and when he died in 1998 the Poppy Appeal became her life’s work.

Marilyn said: “Everybody who had anything to do with poppies knew her.

“Her work really took off when Dad died”.

Joan leaves behind one daughter, Marilyn, two grandsons and two great-granddaughters.

She died of natural causes and her funeral took place last week.