Betty Brooke with Barclay, one of a succession of her dogs which featured in the Saturday Special column Picture: TONY PIKE (00114567)

A FORMER States Senator who also served for many years as a Methodist lay preacher and was a JEP columnist for almost five decades has died, aged 87.

Betty Brooke, who will be recognised by many as BB because of the way in which she signed her Saturday Special column, will be much missed by readers, family, friends and journalistic colleagues for her gentle wisdom, insight and good humour.

She will also be remembered by others as Hardbencher, the incisive parliamentary sketch writer who produced the JEP’s Eye on the States column from 1967 to 1987 – the year in which she successfully stood as Senator.

Mrs Brooke, who was born in Aberdeen, served in the Wrens in the Second World War, and it was through the Royal Navy that she met her husband, the Rev Herbert Brooke, then chaplain of HMS Ariel.

After a posting in Malta, in 1957 Mr Brooke, later elected a Jurat, was appointed minister at Jersey Aquila Road Methodist Church.

• A full obituary will follow.