SISTER Helen Margaret Smart Leslie Summersgill has died, aged 81.

Sister Summersgill was a much loved personality in Skipton and Craven, having provided healthcare to the population for 40 years. She was initially a nursing sister at Skipton General, Raikeswood Hospital, and then as a practice nurse at Clifford House, and its successor, Dyneley House surgery.

She was born in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, in 1937, where she was one of eight children in a farming family.

She never forgot her Scottish roots and never lost her native accent but was proud to be classed as an honorary Yorkshire citizen.

When she was 14 years old, she started working as a chambermaid, before becoming a children's nanny on the children’s ward of Stracathro Hospital near Brechin.

She stayed on to commence her nursing training, qualifying as a Registered General Nurse in 1958.

At this time she met David Summersgill and they were married in 1960 at Lunan Bay Church before moving to begin a new life in Skipton.

They first lived in Castle Street and then to Nelson Street.

Despite working full time as a nursing sister in the operating theatre of Skipton General and on the elderly care wards of Raikeswood Hospital, Helen was a loving mum to her children Nicholas and Merrell but also had time to foster Keith and to provide holidays for children from less well-off families from Doncaster.

Her skills and experience were coveted by the doctors of Clifford House and she became their practice nurse in 1971, developing this pioneering new role and the services offered to patients of the practice. The practice moved to new premises at Dyneley House where she was a well loved and respected by her colleagues. Her work ethic was one of hard work with the job not been finished until it was finished. She was never frightened to stand up for her beliefs or to advocate and support those needing care. From wound care to immunisations and from pre-natal care to post-natal care, Helen will be remembered by thousands for her kindness, care and commitment to excellence in healthcare. She retired from her duties in 1997.

Outside of her professional life she was supported by her husband David and both were devoted to their children and grandchildren with any spare time being spent at their allotment, entertaining friends and enjoying holidays in the UK and abroad.

They were keen members of the Craven Bookman Club and Music Clubs. Helen was a church elder of St Andrews Church and as a lay preacher she visited many a Dales chapel. She was a member of the U3A and had a lifelong belief in the value of further education. She will be remembered by many as a staunch fund raiser and volunteer for the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council raising money to help with arthritis research, this charitable work began after she herself contracted rheumatic fever in her 30s.

Her faith remained constant throughout her life and supported her when David died in 1995 and provided her with the strength to battle motor neurone disease when she was diagnosed in 2016.

A celebration of her life has already taken place.

Contributed.