A MUCH-loved pensioner died ‘far too soon’ following a head-on collision on the A39 near Williton just hours after returning from a family holiday.

Lilian Cootes, 87, of Catwell in the village, was a passenger in a Ford Fiesta with daughter Maureen Talley and eight-year-old great-grandson Joshua Clarke as her son-in-law Mike Talley drove the family to a restaurant in Minehead.

A Peugeot 307 travelling in the opposite direction and their car were in collision at about 8.10pm just to the west of Williton at a junction where the A39 meets a small road leading to Monksilver.

Lilian died at the scene and Joshua was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton before being transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital and now Leeds General Infirmary, closer to his home, where he is stable.

Maureen said: “Mum was at her best when her family was around. We had just returned from a holiday to Dorset to see my brother, Colin, so her last days were spent surrounded by family.

“Otherwise she kept herself to herself – she was quite a personal lady but she made an impression on the people she met. Everyone who really knew her loved her.”

Lilian had remained active, more recently helping in the garden at Maureen and Mike’s where she had moved to from Wales in 2008.

Maureen added: “She was quite ill for two years after she had a knee operation but in the last three months she had been so much better. She had a new lease of life and a lot of energy. Overall she was very healthy.

"It was a tragic way to go and she has gone far too soon.”

Mike said: “She was a strong-willed person but very loveable once you got to know her. I always joked with her that she would get a letter from the Queen when she turned 100. I believe she would have made it to 100 – she had been doing so well the last few months.”

Lilian had five children, 13 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, some of whom rushed back from holidays and work abroad after hearing the news.

She shared a love of bowls with husband Frank, who died in 1987; members of Brecon Bowling Club are to hold a minute’s silence in her memory.

Lillian used to go into Davies Newsagents to pay for her paper deliveries. Owner Hugh Davies said: “She was a delightful lady-very sweet. I was shocked when I realised it was her. I felt numb.”

Lilian's funeral will take place at 2pm on Tuesday (August 6) at St Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton, followed by a service at Taunton Deane Crematorium at 3pm. 

An inquest has been opened and adjourned, while the circumstances of the accident are examined by police.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800- 555111.