A POPULAR face behind Romsey’s Tourist Information Centre counter has died after a long illness.

Carla Howard, who was 61 and lived at North Baddesley, was the longest-serving member of staff at the centre in Church Street.

She was laid to rest on Wednesday in a woodland burial ceremony at St Mary Bourne, near Andover.

Paying tribute to Carla, centre manager, Julia West, said: “Carla will be sorely missed. Carla was very much a citizen of Romsey. Last year, she featured in the Hampshire Life magazine in an article about the town and she was very proud of that.

“Her wealth of knowledge about Romsey was amazing. If an event was happening in Romsey, Carla knew about.” Carla worked at the TIC two days a week for 12 years until last May, when she became too ill.

“Besides her own family, Carla was part of Romsey Baptist Church’s family,” said Julia.

Friends and family attended a remembrance service and a celebration of Carla’s life at the Baptist Church on Wednesday afternoon.

Carla was a member of Romsey Twinning Association and she also worked at the town’s Oasis bookshop.

Mike Bull, from Romsey Twinning, said Carla’s contribution would be very much missed.

“Carla had been a committee member for a number of years and she was always a very keen volunteer and a very personable lady, with a lovely smile,” said Mike.

“Carla was always full of good ideas and regularly went to Romsey’s twin towns, Paimpol and Battenberg. She hosted people from both towns whenever she could. People in Paimpol and Battenberg have sent their condolences.”