THE "grande dame" of Mal-vern's operatic world, Prof-essoressa Marie Lloyd Foulkes has died, aged 95.

Mrs Foulkes was one of the ladies who dominated Malvern's political, civic, cultural and business life during the 1950s and 60s, leading to national, and even international, press coverage as the "town ruled by women".

She was born Maria Berle on January 8, 1908, in Trieste, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and died on Good Friday at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

At an early age, she displayed a gift for piano playing and was educated at the Ursuline Convent in Graz. Her musical training was completed at the Conservatorio Guiseppe Verdi, in Trieste, from where she graduated as professoressa in 1928.

She had many other artistic talents: dressmaking, painting, silver-smithing, bookbinding and pottery among them.

In 1933 she married Dr F H Lloyd. Two daughters were born, Oriana and Ornella, but with the rise of fascism and the imminence of war the family came to England, moving to Malvern in autumn 1940.

Dr Lloyd enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was killed in Normandy in 1944.

Widowed, with two small daughters to bring up and all her possessions lost in the Blitz, Mrs Lloyd was obliged to turn her abilities to earning money.

She bought a piano with funds raised by sales of her handicrafts and started teaching. For many years she was pianist for Marjorie Chater's dancing school, and she also taught piano at the Downs School and art at Hillstone.

In 1950 she established her School of Pianoforte and Singing at St Ronans in Priory Road. She married W J (Bill) Foulkes, an art teacher and stage designer, which led to a prolific artistic contribution with the formation of the Malvern Opera and Ballet Club.

Cavalleria Rusticana, produced in the Festival Theatre in 1953 was the first of 26 operas and operettas stretching over 25 years, the pinnacle of which was Aida in 1972. For these shows, she taught the singing, directed the productions and made the majority of the costumes, interpreting the designs of her husband, who also designed and painted the scenery until his death in 1969.

Her swansong, at the age of 86, was a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors in 1994, but she continued to teach until a year before her death. Following her retirement the club became the Malvern Hills Opera.

Ornella Benson, her daughter, said: "During her whole life, she rose above adversity with determination and a great sense of humour. Nothing was too difficult for her. Her example was an inspiration to both daughters.

"Her greatest legacy undoubtedly was the introduction of grand opera to the people of this area. Malvern owes her an enormous debt of gratitude."

The funeral will be held at 2pm on Tuesday (April 29) at St Joseph's RC church, Malvern.