TRIBUTES have been paid to a former librarian and one of the first volunteers of the Rhyl Samaritan Branch.

Megan Adams, 85, who was also a founding member of the Dawn Elizabeth Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, died on July 28 after a long and 'valiant' battle with Parkinson's disease. Her husband Rufus was with her at her home in Rhyl.

She died listening to Schubert, one of her favourite composers.

Megan and Rufus, who had children Ruth and Dylan, met at Coleg Harlech in 1960. She was the librarian and Rufus, the history tutor.

She graduated in English from Bangor University and studied for her A.C.A (Chartered Librarian ) in Birmingham.

In 1971, Megan was appointed librarian of the newly built St Asaph Library. It was the first public building in Britain designed and planned to metric measurements.

In 1978, she was appointed chief librarian in Abergele but ill-health resulted in early retirement for Megan.

Rufus said: "She had been a volunteer of the Rhyl Samaritan Branch since day one. She was also a founder member of the Dawn Elizabeth Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital which enabled parents to stay overnight with their children. She was really pleased to be involved in such an important development. As a JP she got to know Alice Jones and her husband, the top consultant, and a big gap was identified that parents couldn't stay with their children overnight.

"When she had to retire, and the children were more or less grown up, that is how she filled her days - volunteering. She was very passionate about it. She was a member of Clwyd Street Chapel, Inner Wheel, the Music Club and for many years as JP on the Rhuddlan Bench.

"She was a very gentle person. Certainly gentle.

"She would do a great deal of work. She wasn't trying to be centre stage and only those close to her would know how much she had done."

Megan was diagnosed with Parkinson's about five years ago.

Rufus added: "Through her illness, the support and compassion given by Seashells Carers, Social Services, District Nurses, Clarence Medical Centre, Parry’s Corner Pharmacy and Marie Curie went beyond professionalism.

"The carers, they would phone once a week and then it was once a day.

"They have been wonderful."

Because of coronavirus, only close family were at the final farewell at St Asaph Crematorium.

The bearers were her son-in-law and three grandsons.

Contributions in Megan’s memory are being received by Funeral Directors Ivor Howatson & Son, Sisson Street, Rhyl, Telephone 01745 331182.

They will be distributed between Parkinson’s Foundation and Marie Curie.