A TRIBUTE has been paid to a former Skipton woman who described her 27 years in the town as "the happiest of her life".

Janet Gordon died on January 14 at the age of 82 from complications with motor neurone disease (MND).

Janet, who had lived in Skipton for 27 years, was born in Bradford on March 23, 1935, and attended Grange Primary and Bradford Girls Grammar School.

After teacher training college she moved to London and taught in inner city schools, eventually becoming a headmistress.

She returned to Bradford in 1979, where she taught at Lady Royd Primary School.

Janet's daughter, Harriet Dunlop, said: "She moved to Skipton after retiring which was a dream come true after spending childhood holidays and much of the Second World War in the Dales."

Janet was a Craven district councillor and Skipton town councillor for the Labour Party and campaigned to maintain greenfield sites across Skipton, protect the Ghyll Day Centre, provide recreational spaces for children, protect the rights of market traders, support Skipton Little Theatre and provide benches throughout the town. She also fought for the proceeds of the sale of Raikeswood Hospital to be spent at Skipton General Hospital.

She served the community as an area coordinator for Christian Aid, governor at Brooklands School, volunteer with Girl Guides, member of Skipton Little Theatre, Soroptomist and Bible study group leader.

She was on the PCC and was an active member of both Holy Trinity Church and Christ Church.

Then as a member of Churches Together, she worked to build bridges between mosques in Bradford and Keighley and Anglican churches in Skipton and the Dales

She also was a member of the University of the Third Age (U3A) and a was a member of the North Yorkshire Peace Group, attending a demo outside Skipton Town Hall just a few days before her MND diagnosis.

Harriet said: "She described her last 27 years in the town as the happiest of her life, throwing herself wholeheartedly into everything the town had to offer and also offering the town all she had to offer.

"I know she was a hugely well loved and respected member of the town from all the hundreds of cards she and I received since her diagnosis in November up until her death in January."

Janet is survived by a daughter, Harriet; two grandchildren, Joseph and Gracie; a sister, Margaret; and three nieces, Elizabeth, Fiona and Helen.

A memorial service to celebrate Janet's life will be held at Christ Church in Skipton at 3pm on Monday, April 9.

All are invited to stay for refreshments in the church after the service.

No flowers please but donations for MND Research will be gratefully received at the service.