Tributes have been paid to former primary school teacher Jane McNair who lost her battle with cancer, aged 46.

Mrs McNair, of Canada Rise, Market Lavington, had been a teacher for 18 years and was deputy headteacher at Wansdyke Primary School for about six years.

She left the school in 2005 to set up her own business, Potato Patch Crafts, a craft shop based at the Old Potato Yard at Lydeway.

She had been given the all clear after undergoing treatment for breast cancer when she was 30 but four years ago the cancer returned. She died on June 29 in the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Her husband Nick, 52, a computer worker, said: “Jane was vivacious, fun, and full of life. People who called at her shop were not aware of the extent of her illness. She was just so cheerful.”

The couple have an 11-year-old daughter, Stephanie.

Liz Nelson, manager of Plank’s Farm Shop at the Old Potato Yard, said: “She was always smiling even through her illness, she never let it get her down.

“She was a really important part of this community and she was so generous with her time. She was always thinking of other people. The place is going to be very sad without her.”

Jim Smith was headteacher at Wansdyke Primary School for 13 years when Mrs McNair was deputy. He said: “For me Jane set the benchmark for what an excellent deputy head is. She had very high standards and high expectations for children.

“Without exception everyone I met who has been taught by her say what an excellent teacher she was. My two kids were taught by her. My daughter Emma is about to take up her first teaching post and she said ‘I wish I could be as good a teacher as Mrs Cross (Mrs McNair’s previous name).’ “Jane touched so many people’s lives and she was just wonderful.”

After setting up her own business, Mrs McNair did a few years supply teaching at Wansdyke and St Barnabas in Market Lavington.

She raised money for Breast Cancer Care with events at her shop. Her family have asked for donations to go to the charity. A thanksgiving service will take place at 2pm on July 15 at St John’s Church, Devizes.