The wife of a former Governor of Bermuda has been praised for her support for charity on the island.

Jennifer Masefield, who died in April, aged 79, the wife of former governor Thorold Masefield, was given a service of remembrance last week at St Saviour’s Church in Brockenhurst, Hampshire in England. She lived in Bermuda during Mr Masefield’s governorship from 1997 to 2001 and both were keen supporters of Pals, the cancer charity.

Ann Smith Gordon, the former executive director of Pals, said Ms Masefield was patron of the charity during her time on the island.

Ms Smith Gordon said she invited the charity’s five oncology nurses in turn to regular lunches at her home with Mrs Masefield.

The gatherings were followed by individual visits to each nurse’s patients. Ms Smith Gordon said: “It was a huge boost to the patients, who were thrilled to have the Governor’s wife visit.

“We took photographs if they wanted, and the next time we visited we would see the picture prominently displayed. She and her husband were very supportive of anything I asked of them, and they became very dear friends.”

Mrs Masefield, an orthopaedic nurse and physiotherapist, was awarded an MBE in the 2002 New Year’s honours for her services to charity.

Ms Smith Gordon said Mrs Masefield developed Alzheimer’s disease in her later years, but was “such a happy soul when I visited and was always smiling”.

“Mr Masefield himself looked after her so well and she managed right up to the end. The loss has left a hole in his heart — she was his soulmate.”

The couple had three children, Nigel, Sally and Roger.

Her obituary in The Times of London said she was “an inspirational, multitalented author, nurse, needlewoman and consummate diplomatic hostess”.

The service in her memory was held on June 7.