MUCH loved wife Diana Grist, who was the woman behind the man who built a business empire in Devizes, died suddenly last week as her family thought she was recovering after a hospital stay for a chronic kidney condition.

Mrs Grist, 56, who died at home in Webbs Lane on March 14, was on the waiting list for a new kidney but that did not stop her working long days in the family waste business Grist Environmental headed by her husband Nigel.

This week Mr Grist and other close family, friends and work colleagues spoke of the woman who put everything in to helping both the business and the family thrive.

Mr Grist said: "I couldn't have done it without her. We both worked 18 hours days and she carried on working even when she was on dialysis for ten hours a day. Her only real interests were family and business. She wasn't the sort of woman who was in to material things. She was my rock."

Company secretary Mrs Grist, who leaves three sons Adam, 29, James, 27 and Marcus, 26 and a daughter Nicole, 21 as well as a two-year-old granddaughter Amelia, two, was Devizes born and bred. She lived originally in Caen Hill and went to St Peter's Primary followed by Devizes School.

She and Mr Grist, 61, had known each other for many years but began going out after a carnival evening 40 years ago. They quickly became a couple and lived in Avon Road and then married 30 years ago in July, 1987.

She originally worked for TH White in Devizes but as the family business grew she became company secretary and is credited by her husband for much of the business success.

Her son James said: "When we were young if any of us woke up in the middle of the night and wanted mum we knew to look in the office at home not in the bedroom. She was a great mum and instilled a real work ethic in all of us."

Her personal assistant Lucie Packer said: "She was totally dedicated to the business and had time for all the staff. They were like a second family to her."

The funeral service will be at St John's Church, Devizes on April 1 at noon followed by a wake at The Bear Hotel. Donations will go to Kidney Research and Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

Grist Environmental, which employs 180 people, will be closed on the day so all staff can attend.