A Monmouth woman whose knowledge and love of hats led many of her creations to be used in Hollywood films has died aged 95.

Kirstie Buckland found academic acclaim in building a business from a very old knitted 'Monmouth Cap' in Monmouth Museum. Asked to look into its history for a visit by Prince Charles, she published her research and started making exact replicas for re enactors in UK, Italy, Canada and Germany.

This then expanded to include other types of early hats for major movies - Master and Commander, Rob Roy, 1492, Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, Around the World in 80 days (2004) - as well as the Globe Theatre, National Theatre, NY Metropolitan Opera House, on tv programmes such as the BBCs Clothes Show, the Sharpe series, Lorna Doone, Hornblower and historical settings at Madame Tussauds (Warwick Castle), Mary Rose Museum and living history sites - Colonial Williamsburg; Jamestown, Plimoth Plantation.

She was born in 1931 and christened on board the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert: Her father was a commander in the Royal Navy, her mum was in the Mechanised Transport Corps.

Kirstie grew up in Thames Ditton during the war and remembered hiding under the kitchen table and in the vicarage cellar during raids.

She went to school at The Royal School for Naval & Marine Officer's Female Daughters and left at 16 to work at Norman Hartnell's (Queen's dress designer) as a junior where she saw the Queen's wedding dress.

After spending two years in Portugal as a nanny where she taught the future King of Spain to ride, she went to work as a nanny for the Bucklands at Blackbrook Manor, near Skenfrith. Her future husband, Tim, went to pick her up from Ross railway station.

Tim and Kirstie married in 1955 at Christ Church, Mayfair and held the reception at The Lansdowne Club, London and then took over Blackbrook and lived there from 1955 to 1985, saving the house from demolition after sourcing grants to repair the roof.

It was here Kirstie bred and exhibited pedigree Siamese cats as well as teaching at the Leisure Centre and swimming club in Monmouth. She also worked for the Probation Service and ran an employment agency from her front room.

It was her expertise in dressmaking, lacemaking, spinning, weaving and upholstery that led her to take a role in preserving the 15th century Skenfrith Cope, with professional advice, over a two year period.

She took a leading role in conservation in Monmouth, holding office in Antiquarian/Amenity Societies, chairing Monmouth Action Group and Monmouth Heritage Trust.

She ran the Rolls Hall as a theatre as well as tirelessly campaigning to raise awareness for the need for a new bridge over Monnow to protect the ancient bridge as well as calling for the railings to be reinstated at Shire Hall.

She is survived by her four children - Geraldine, Hamish, Lydia and Robert - and nine grandchildren. three great grandchildren and her husband Gerald 'Tim' Buckland, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in June of this year.