CLOSE friends of a well-known Sidmouth woman toasted her Bon Voyage and farewell with a cup of tea at a party last week. Faith Warren, 83, the former matron of Sidmouth Hospital, will be moving from the Jurassic Coast of Sidmouth to the beautiful Cote D A

CLOSE friends of a well-known Sidmouth woman toasted her Bon Voyage and farewell with a cup of tea at a party last week.

Faith Warren, 83, the former matron of Sidmouth Hospital, will be moving from the Jurassic Coast of Sidmouth to the beautiful Cote D'Armor in France.

Wellwishers attended her farewell party last Thursday at Twyford House and Faith was pleasantly surprised with the turn out.

She said: "It was lovely and beautiful. Quite a few people came who I hadn't seen in a while-it was wonderful to see them."

Faith, who has six grandchildren, was treated to a Bon Voyage cake, complete with a French flag.

"It was delicious-the party finished at around quarter past five and I got to take a few slices of cake home with me," she added.

Faith, a popular member of the Sidmouth community, worked as a district nurse in the area before being promoted to matron at the hospital in 1972.

In her time she has helped to deliver hundreds of babies, whose parents still come up to her now to thank her.

She also worked as a missionary in South Africa during the Apartheid and in Botswana for six months.

Faith, who is now writing the memoirs of her colourful life, is moving on February 24 to live with her son, Philip, and daughter-in-law, Denise in their French villa.

"I'm getting quite excited now. I've made a list and my family will pack for me."

She is learning French to ease her into a new culture and although it is time consuming she is "getting there".

Faith is looking forward to visits from her "lovely" grandchildren and her other son Paul and his wife, Sally, who will remain in England.

Faith was presented with a painting of Sidmouth as a parting gift by one of her former colleagues-so she will always remember the town.

She added: "I want to thank everyone for ringing and writing and coming to the party-I was overwhelmed.