Wendy Brand, an Aids support volunteer for more than 20 years, has died aged 72.

Mrs Brand, known as the Butterfly Lady for wearing clothes decorated with butterflies, took people to hospital, staged events and provided emotional support for people with Aids.

The long-standing chair of Leicestershire Aids Support Services (LASS), from Exton in Rutland, began supporting the group as a friend.

She volunteered for LASS as a befriender, respite volunteer, drop-in worker, events coordinator and member of the Promenaid fund-raising shows.

In the 1980s, during her time as chair, she met Princess Diana, who was visiting the city.

Her daughter, Debbie Johnson, said: "She would listen and understand the needs of people very quickly, her front-line knowledge helping the committee to make better informed decisions around the real needs of HIV positive people."

"She helped make the panels which hang in the reception at the services today. The panels each contain a handmade purse, in memory of a person who died as a result of HIV."

Mrs Brand represented LASS on many groups, gave talks, took part in training, ferried people to appointments, and provided emotional and practical support.

She led sponsored swims, staffed information stalls and touched all parts of the service that LASS supplied.

Mrs Brand, who died last month, was known for her love of nature and served on the committees of Keep Rutland Rural, Arts for Rutland, Voluntary Action Rutland and Oakham in Bloom.

A parish councillor in Exton, she was widowed for a second time when her husband died of leukaemia, aged 33. She never remarried.

Mrs Johnson added: "She had five children to bring up, but she was always helping those less fortunate.

"We have received so many letters from people saying she helped them through their darkest hours."

Mrs Brand, who died of kidney failure, leaves three daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren.

http://lastingtribute. thisisleicestershire.co.uk/ tribute/brand/3166266