THE bereaved family of a Walton woman can take comfort from the fact that "her last few days on the planet were wonderful".

May Hurst, from Florence Road, died the day after celebrating her 70th birthday.

Her husband, John, says that she received phone calls from well wishers across the globe on her big day, including India, Australia and her native Mauritius.

"She really enjoyed herself," he said.

"Her last few days on the planet were wonderful."

And now at her home, a multitude of birthday cards jostle for position with hundreds of condolence notes, highlighting the impact she had on the lives of those she met.

Mr Hurst, 65, said: "In simple terms, she was irreplaceable.

"She was always thinking of others and did everything for me.

"I won't be able to see through the tears at her funeral."

May Madanamoothoo, as she was then, moved to England in 1964 to train as a nurse, eventually taking up a position at Notley Hospital in Braintree.

It was there that she met her future mother-in-law, Flora, when she was a patient on her ward.

"My mother asked her where she was from, and May told her Mauritius," said Mr Hurst.

"She thought my mother wouldn't have heard of it, but I had visited there on the HMS Gambia when I was in the Royal Navy."

Mr Hurst met his future wife on his next visit to see his mother, and they were married two and a half years later at Walton Parish Church.

Together they had three sons, Philip - now deputy headteacher at Manningtree High School - Steve, a chandler, and Colin, who sadly died when he was two.

During her working life, Mrs Hurst worked at Middlesex Hospital Convalescent Home in Clacton, the Samuel Lewis Convalescent Home in Walton and the Essex Voluntary Association for the Blind Home in Frinton.

Her matron at the Middlesex, Primrose Simpson, remained a good friend up until Mrs Hurst's death - a bond which was strengthened when she lent her wedding dress to the nurse when she got married.

She said: "May was always one of my special nurses, her kindness and gentle nature gave her respect and stood out above all others."

Mrs Hurst's funeral was held at Walton Parish Church on Monday ***July 2***