Tributes have been paid to Margaret Morphet of Horton-in-Ribblesdale who died recently, writes Caroline Thompson.

At her funeral, she was described as "an integral part of the community."

Margaret moved to Horton in 1954 on her marriage to farmer Alexander (Alec) Morphet. She became a treasurer of Horton Show and a key member of the WI, the Thursday Club and St Oswald’s Church. Margaret baked endless cakes for the Gala and supported Alexander in his work for the Playing Fields Association and the Parish Council.

Born in 1932, Margaret was one of five children of Richard and Isobella Mellin of Sedgwick's Farm, Tosside.

She attended Tosside school and later Wigglesworth school. She recalled cycling past wartime stocks of munitions.

At 14 Margaret became housekeeper to the Midland Bank manager in Settle and later to Dr Clegg at his Long Preston home and surgery. She cycled back to Wigglesworth and the family on her days off. Margaret entered a Young Farmers’ beauty contest in Newton-in-Bowland and won through to the finals in Harrogate, where she was supported by colleagues including Horton farmer and her future husband.

Their first and only home was High Birkwith Farm. In the 1950s, Margaret churned butter from their herd of Dairy Shorthorns. Eventually the herd was replaced by Friesians and the milk was collected in kits and tankers.

Margaret cycled everywhere until James Handby of Horton taught her to drive - this was a boon to her growing family and all the support she gave to village organisations.

An excellent cook, Margaret catered for farm workers who all had their meals in the house with the family. At busy times, she delivered food across the fields to wherever the staff were working, especially at hay-time.

After crops were gathered in the family enjoyed caravanning around Whitby, Bath and Oxford.

Margaret and Alec made a formidable team and were supportive of each other. After her husband’s death in 2015, Margaret continued to live on the farm with her family and looked out for neighbours and friends.

Having grown up in the austerity of the 1930s she rose to the challenge of rural life. She worked hard to sustain Horton’s community and longed for it to flourish again.

Margaret leaves four children and three grandchildren and was devoted to them all.