My wife, Rocki Frampton, who has died aged 64, was a lively and vital person who only two days before suffering the subarachnoid haemorrhage that led to her death was taking part in zumba dancing with a keep-fit class.
The second of five children, Rocki was born in Frome, Somerset, and christened Rochelle, a name she reserved for official documents. After studying for a degree in engineering mathematics at Southampton University, she started her career as a systems designer in Fulham, south-west London, where we met through a mutual friend.
A champion of women's equality, Rocki retained her maiden name on marriage. In 1976 we moved to Cheltenham, where among other projects she designed a stock-keeping system for a national firm of builder's merchants. After the birth of our son, Sam, in 1979 (now a keyboard player with the Bristol-based group Mango Factory), we moved to the north Somerset village of Congresbury. Following a familiar path, we bought and began restoring a neglected old farmhouse and completed the renovation soon after the adoption of our daughter, Terri, in 1988.
During the 1980s, Rocki was a lay magistrate at Weston-super-Mare, a school governor and an active member of the local Labour party. As well as organising jumble sales and improving party communications, she stood (unsuccessfully) as Labour candidate in the county elections in what was then a Tory stronghold.
Combining a successful career as a systems designer and mother, Rocki later switched to teaching computing at adult education centres in north Somerset.
At the age of 50, she took up the saxophone and subsequently joined Cadbury Wind Band, where she played alto. She was also band music librarian and treasurer. Rocki played baritone sax in a Bristol big band for several years and was one of a rare breed among musicians – a good organiser. Planning several concerts over the years, she played a major part in organising a performance by Brass Yard Big Band in the village of Backwell in June.
Rocki will be remembered for the energy, enthusiasm and organisational skills she brought to her many projects. She is survived by me, Sam and Terri.