Hightor Vale: The Village at the Heart of Ann Widdecombe’s Tragedy

Widdecombe was described as a regular worshiper at the abbey church at Buckfast Abbey, where the community said she would be “missed and fondly remembered”.

The convent community “wishes comfort to her family and friends.”

Meanwhile, former long-time driver Peter Horall, who laid flowers near her home, reflected on the “great, very kind” woman.

It was a “blessing” to drive her, he said.

“I like her because if you ask her a question, you’ll get an answer – no cheating.”

In the nearby village of Ilsington, a short drive down the winding Devon roads, Widdecombe was often seen in the local shop.

She always had time for a “smile and a wave”, villagers said, adding that resident Jane Parsons was left “distressed” by the ongoing police investigation.

Uniformed police are going door-to-door, checking on people and asking for helpful information.

As those questions continue, villagers can sit tight, wait for more news, and reflect.