BRENDA May Wood, a resident of Gargrave for more than 50 years has died at the age of 86. Brenda Sands, as she was known when she moved into Gargrave in 1963, a single mother with a handful of sons, soon established herself as a caring and active member of the community.

Her public service lasted more than 40 years and began with her involvement on Gargrave School PTA. She became a long serving member of Gargrave Parish Council and was a well organised and thorough secretary.

Brenda was elected to Craven District Council as a Conservative Councillor for Gargrave and Malhamdale and was a committed member.

She was clerk to St Andrew’s Church PPC and was a trustee of the Poor Lands Trust. Brenda was a founding member of Gargrave NSPCC and her skills with clothes and fashion items made her a key member of the fund raising team.

Beyond her contributions to the voluntary sector, Brenda had a variety of jobs in her life but it was her co-ownership of the very successful Vogue Fashion Agency in Skipton that allowed her to apply her personality and her practical talents to the best.

Brenda was a keen member of Gargrave Amateur Dramatic Society which later lead her into the cast of St Andrew’s Church nativity where, for many years, she was the Narrator. She was also a stalwart of the croquet club and later spent more time on her art, which was a life-long passion.

Brenda married three times and had five sons from her first marriage, Robin, Jeremy, Nick, Julian, who found fame as a film and television actor, and Quentin; 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

A cremation for family and close friends will take place at 10am on Monday, October 3 followed by a Memorial Service at St Andrews Church, Gargrave at 1130 am. The family request no flowers but ask that donations in memory of Brenda to favourite charities or to St Andrew’s Church, Gargrave.