Irene's husband pays tribute to his murdered wife

The tribute has been circulated on his behalf by Sussex Police.

A team of more than 25 detectives is currently hunting her killer. Mrs Herring, 85, died in the Conquest Hospital at Hastings on Monday of pneumonia after inhaling smoke when her bedroom at Ancaster Court BUPA nursing home in Hastings Road was set alight on Sunday morning.

Mr Herring said his dear wife Rene, as she was known, will be sorely missed by himself, his grieving sons, their families and relations and all who knew and loved her.

He said: "Rene was a naturally happy soul and had a ready smile. In her quiet way she enjoyed life and she lived for family.

"She was born in Ireland to her Royal Marine father and Irish mother and moved to her father's base in Plymouth when she was very young. She spent her early years and teens in Plymouth and was educated at Notre Dame convent school. On leaving school she took a business course and then worked for an estate agent until the offices were destroyed by the bombing during the war. After which she spent some happy time in Yelverton.

"She then joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and was a teleprint operator in contact with agents in France. When she was discharged and after a very short time, she joined the WAF and served in the Middle East. On discharge from the WAF she had a short break in civilian life but then joined the WRENS, where she was stationed in London.

"Rene came to visit her sister in Bexhill and I met her at that time in mid 1948. We were married in November 1950 and we were blessed with five children; Philip, Stephen, Peter, Anthony and Mary. Sadly, Mary died when she was five years old which caused us all much sorrow.

Through our married life we have always lived in Bexhill and when the children were older Irene had a job as a medical secretary at Bexhill Hospital.

"We both retired in about 1983 so we have enjoyed many happy years since then during which time we holidayed in the UK and sometimes abroad. Sadly Rene suffered a stroke in May 2006 and has been in hospital or in nursing homes since then.

"I visited Rene regularly and last saw her on Saturday. With a sad heart, I have to say she was taken to the Conquest Hospital on Sunday morning where she received the church's last rites and died on Monday morning.

"Rene throughout her life was a devoted Catholic and took part in activities at Our Lady of the Rosary and St Mary Magdalene's churches.

I am sure she is now with Almighty God and reunited with our beloved Mary, her parents and all the family. I know she is watching over us as she always did and may she rest in peace."