When pianist Rosemary Robinson died a month ago her children were amazed at the number of messages and letters they received.

They knew their mother had devoted her life to playing the piano but had no idea she had made so many friends.

Her daughter, Bunty Denyer, from Shoreham Beach, said: "Everyone had so much affection for her."

Rosemary was born Rose Mary Pearce, the oldest of three children in Old Kent Road, London, in 1911.

From a young age it was clear she had a talent for the piano.

In her teens, Rosemary was sent to a Catholic finishing school in Belgium where she devoted more time to the piano.

After finishing school she returned to London and carried on studying music.

She adopted the stage name Rosemary by which she would be known for the rest of her life.

She passed the prestigious Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) diploma in her late 20s.

When she was 29 she gave a piano recital at the Wigmore Hall in London. Her other daughter, Chris Gurr, said: "It was her proudest moment. You had to be good to play there."

Soon afterwards she met her first husband, printer Leslie Boughton, when the pair were working as part of a Red Cross ambulance team in London during the Second World War.

They married and had five children.

After a time living in Newcastle, the family moved to Sussex in the Fifties, living in Seaford and Hove.

Rosemary soon got a job as pit pianist for the Forbes Russell Repertory Company, which performed each summer season at the old Palace Pier Theatre in Brighton.

There she worked alongside Judy Cornwell and Julia Foster, then young actresses.

She played several summer seasons during the Fifties and Sixties until the Palace Pier Theatre was closed down.

She split from her husband in 1957 and later married John Robinson. The marriage did not last.

After her children grew up and left home, Rosemary, of Sheridan Terrace, Hove, played many different venues.

Mrs Denyer said: "Mum kept on doing all sorts of things. She was so busy we never saw her."

Among her favourite venues were the Chung King Chinese restaurant in Queen's Road, Brighton, and The Lawns Hotel.

Mrs Gurr, who lives in Lindfield, said: "She'd play anything from Rachmaninov to Knees Up Mother Brown."

Other prestigious venues Rosemary played included Hove Town Hall, the Courtlands Hotel, the Metropole Hotel and the Sackville Hotel in Brighton and Hove.

She was also the pianist for a number of events at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing.

At showings of nostalgia films such as Wish You Were Here and Hope And Glory she would provide the music in the VIP bar.

She was also a regular pianist for Keep Fit In Retirement at the Friends Centre in Ship Street, Brighton, where she played until she was 89.

She played in scores of Brighton pubs including The Hikers Rest in Coldean Lane, The Caxton Arms in North Gardens, The Royal Sovereign in Preston Street, The Fortune Of War in Kings Road Arches and The Cricketers in Black Lion Street.

Mrs Gurr said: "One time at the Connaught Pub in Hove Street she said she wasn't going to play any more unless they got a better piano. The staff and customers clubbed together and bought a 12ft grand piano for her."

Rosemary gave piano lessons until the last ten years of her life, coaching many youngsters through their grade exams.

Mrs Denyer said: "She used to holiday in Eastbourne where there was a lovely music shop with a Bernstein grand piano.

"One time mum went in, sat at the piano and started playing it in the window. The manager didn't mind a bit.

"If there was a piano she was there. It was her life."