​Margarette Joyce Statham, who died on December 12 at the age of 73, was known as a “local celebrity” in Wormbridge, according to her family, and was a “woman whose heart was as large as the community she served”. For over 20 years, she was the face of the popular Wormbridge Tack Shop, but away from the business, she was defined by her “tireless devotion to animal welfare. A stalwart supporter of the Donkey Sanctuary and the RSPCA, she fostered hundreds of animals over the decades. ​Her sons, Alastair and Anthony Statham, remembered her as a woman who “would take care of anyone or anything who needed help, whether they had two legs or four.” The pair said she leaves behind a legacy of humour, kindness, and a community that is “much brighter for having had her in it.” Her sons said that their mother’s unique claim to fame was her role in breeding the regal goats used by the late Queen Elizabeth II’s forces. Her expertise led to a moment of local history when her goat, “Gadget” (later renamed as “Shenkin II”), was selected to join the Army. The sight of highly decorated armed forces arriving in the village to retrieve Gadget remains a “cherished memory and a testament to the quality of her work.” Ms Statham’s family has invited those who knew her to join in celebrating her life, adding that the “outpouring” of hundreds of messages since her death “reflects the deep impact she had on the region.” Her funeral will be held on January 9 at 11am at Dore Abbey in Abbey Dore. The wake will then be held at Ewyas Harold’s Memorial Hall.