ARIANE Giles, widow of Laurence Giles, long-time patron of the Bramshott and Liphook Preservation Society, has passed away. She was 99.

Born Ariane Balland in Switzerland in 1916, she was a lady of great enthusiasm and contributed to the success of Laurence’ studies into local history, which have been archived by members of the Heritage Centre and is on view at the Millennium Centre.

The couple lived in Liphook for 34 years with their children Jacques and Monica.

As one of three children, Ariane grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. Until she was 15, the family took their summer holidays in Gruyeres where they owned a castle purchased by her great grandfather.

The recession of the early 1930s hit the family very hard. Balland & Co, a successful goldsmiths making gold medals and parts for Swiss watches, closed.

Ariane had to earn a living. She spoke German, Italian and French and decided to brush up her English. Through a connection of her brother Rene, she came to England in 1937.

Laurence was home on leave from Nigeria, where he was stationed with the Colonial Service, and went to Birmingham to visit his best friend. Here he met Ariane, a pretty au pair girl.

While visiting, he broke his arm and had to extend his leave, which allowed the romance to blossom and after a short time, he and Ariane got engaged.

The marriage took place in Geneva on July 10, 1939 followed by a honeymoon walking in the Swiss Alps and driving around Switzerland.

After war broke out, Laurence had to return to Nigeria and the couple flew to Algiers from Marseille in a seaplane, where they hired a bus to cross the Sahara.

After two years in northern Nigeria, Laurence managed to get some leave from his intelligence work and the couple decided to go to South Africa overland.

They were away for five months and after their return to Nigeria, Jacques was born a few months later.

At the end of the war the family returned to Switzerland, arriving two days after Ariane’s father had passed away. She stayed on in Geneva while Laurence returned to England. Their daughter Monica was born in Geneva in April 1946.

A year later the family again set sail to return to Kaduna in Nigeria. They lived and worked there for another nine years, returning to England in 1956.

Laurence got a job running ICI’s training courses at its Millbank HQ, in London, so they moved to Raynes Park, Wimbledon.

Ariane began in earnest to grow her own fruit and vegetables and create a garden full of flowers. Always elegant, Ariane loved to make her own clothes and also took up knitting, while supporting Laurence in his work, often entertaining staff or foreign delegates.

When ICI transferred him to its plant division at Fernhurst in 1970, the family settled in Liphook, for the next 34 years.

Following his retirement, Laurence joined the BLPS and Ariane joined the Catholic Women’s Guild, becoming its chairman.

In 1999, the couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary and Laurence’s 90th birthday with a memorable party and a card from the Queen.

In 2004 they moved to East Hertfordshire, to be near Jacques and Monica, before Laurence died in 2007, which affected Ariane very badly.

Depite her many years in the UK, her English accent never improved and she will always be remembered for her mispronunciations as well as her great kindness and generosity.