A "LOVING and caring" member of the South Norwood Tourist Board (SNTB) has passed away after losing her battle with cancer.
June Hailes, 63, from Shirley, died on July 6 and leaves behind her son James, 31.
Ms Hailes, who arrived in south London from her hometown of Gateshead aged 18, was fascinated by history and gave a talk for the SNTB on the famous sons and daughters of South Norwood in 2012.
Andrea Carter, one of Ms Hailes' best friends, said: "She was just such a kind, loving and caring person who always had time for everybody.
"She would never walk past anybody in the street and would always help someone if they were in need. She was one of life's real carers."
Ms Hailes, a senior manager at financial services company Alexander Forbes, chose the music to be played at her funeral at Beckenham Crematorium last Tuesday. Songs included La Mer by Charles Trenet, Vienna by Ultravox and Give A Little, Take A Little by Jimmy Cliff.
Known to some as 'Junie-bobs', one of her biggest passions in life was for history, especially the Middle Ages and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Jason Cooper, of the South Norwood Tourist Board, said: "I approached June to be part of South Norwood Tourist Board due to her love of history and research.
"Myself and Ian Bone – an associate of the SNTB – needed another speaker and June fitted the bill perfectly; witty, knowledgeable and far more pretty to look at than me and Ian.
"We gave her the onerous task of finding out about anyone famous who may have lived in South Norwood and its surrounding area.
"June gave a very amusing talk, that went from the sublime to the obscure – wonderfully researched, wonderfully delivered and it marked SNTB's first ever talk to about 20 people. We will miss her."
Ms Hailes' ashes will be scattered on a green in Warkworth, Northumberland, where she used to take holidays as a child.
