A TRUE Dales character, Jean Reinsch, a keen local historian, botanist, walker, and one of the original national park wardens, has died at the age of 95.

Mrs Reinsch, who was born in 1922 and brought up by her mother and stepfather in Skirethorns and went to Threshfield School.

In 1947, she married Kurt Reinsch, who worked at Threshfield Quarry, and the couple, who had four children, eventually settled in Hardy Meadows, Grassington.

While bringing up her family, she worked at various hotels, was a waitress at Long Ashes and at the Devonshire in Grassington, and also helped out with school meals at Upper Wharfedale School.

A keen botanist, she studied astronomy and oceanography with the University of the Third Age.

One of the first and longest serving volunteer wardens with the Yorkshire Dales National Park, she took guided walks of the Grassington lead mines in the 1980s and 90s.

She took evening classes in pottery, painting and archaeology, and volunteered on work parties for the Scottish National Trust.

Mrs Reinsch was a member of the St Kilda Club and on her last visit to the island was honoured to be invited to attend the first wedding there for more than 60 years.

Her good friend, Bill Mitchell, an editor of The Dalesman, encouraged her to publish some of her work: The Dales Are Mine, Walking Memories, and Spanning the Centuries.

A passion for archaeology led her to become a founder member of Craven Museum and a life member of Grassington Museum. She donated many items, including an oil lamp found in Buckden gravel mine, and was one of the team to work with Dr Arthur Raistrick on various archaeological sites in the area.

Despite the fact women were originally barred from joining the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue (UWFRA) she joined her husband and eventually their three sons, by helping out with fundraising and with the 'mess tent' at rescues.

She became an assistant warden, was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and was voted a life member. Many people will remember her dressed in a long blue dress and frilly apron serving tea and cakes at the Grassington Dickensian Festival, which she attended up until her mid 80s.

She was also a life member of the Upper Wharfedale Field Society where she was treasurer for many years. She looked after the walks programme and together with Kurt would lead at least two walks for each programme.

Her husband died in 1994, after which she called on her many friends to continue her enthusiasm for walking. In addition to her four children, Paul, Adrian, Lorraine and Greg, she leaves 11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 22. A remembrance service will take place at Grassington Methodist Church at 1.30pm following committal in Skipton.