TRIBUTES to a loving mum, grandma and great grandma were made at the funeral of 89-year old Doris Clarkson this week.

Her funeral was held at Silsden Methodist Church on Monday, following her death from cancer at The Raikes Residential Care Home on October 4.

Until last month she had lived in Bradley Road for 33 years.

After growing up in Bridgnorth in Shropshire, Mrs Clarkson moved to Silsden after the Second World War to take up a job as nanny to Major Colin Hill’s family. During the war she had been his head cook in the officers’ mess at Brancepeth Castle, County Durham.

She later worked at Silsden footwear wholesalers Charlie Green’s, and was also a waitress at Steeton Hall Hotel in the early 1980s.

She married Charles Clarkson in 1949 and the couple were well-known in Silsden for their fruit and vegetable growing, as well as for their involvement in Silsden Horticultural Society.

For many years Mrs Clarkson was the top prize winner at the horticultural show with her cakes and jams, taking the Rose Bowl trophy three years running from1988 to 1990. She went onto judge the baking section of the show.

Her grandson Stuart Clarkson read the eulogy at Mrs Clarkson's funeral. He said: “Food played a massive part in our family’s life when I was growing up.

"Grandma and Grandad’s homegrown raspberries and strawberries were the best I’ve ever known, and they used to sell their tomatoes in the old greengrocer’s at the bottom of Briggate every year.

"Her piccalilli – made using marrows, runner beans and onions from the veg patch – was another family favourite, as were her legendary rum truffles.

"Only last Christmas she took a bag of truffles in for her GP and pulled them out of her handbag at the end of the consultation. The doctor was in fits of laughter as she told him ‘Take one of these three times a day’".

Floral arrangements at the funeral included carrots, runner beans and other vegetables that Mrs Clarkson would grow each year in her garden.

As her coffin was carried out of the church, the congregation heard the late Mr and Mrs Clarkson singing a duet together. Their rendition of Love’s Old Sweet Song was on a recording from 1960 made at renowned pianist Harold Kitchen’s house in Silsden.

Stuart added: “My grandma had an amazing life, but seemed noticeably lost without granddad in the 20 months since he died.

"I know she missed him enormously so at least they’re now in the same place, back together again forever. She’ll be remembered by so many people as a kind, gentle, giving, considerate and uncomplaining lady.”

Mrs Clarkson is survived by one sister, Daisy, as well as children Margaret Simpson and David Clarkson, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.