WARM tributes have been paid to former ‘genuine’ and ‘kind-hearted’ Craven Councillor Pat Fairbank, who died last week at the Currergate Nursing Home, Steeton, at the age of 83.

Her fellow former colleagues stood for a minute’s silence at the start of last week’s full meeting of Craven District Council in respect of the former Conservative ward member for Aire Valley with Lothersdale, who retired in March, 2017 due to ill health.

Mrs Fairbank was first elected onto the council in 2000 and served for 17 years. She was the council’s ‘member champion’ for older people, was a member of the scrutinising select committee for several years, and also sat on the standards committee. During her time on the council, she was also a member of five other committees, including licensing, community services, and housing and environmental services.

Council leader Cllr Richard Foster said Mrs Fairbank had a mischievous sense of humour who would ring him and pretend to be the Queen. She was a passionate campaigner for issues in her ward, and also for public transport, especially Skipton Bus Station.

Mrs Fairbank was already a councillor when he first joined the council and was a great mentor, added Cllr Foster.”She always had a smile on her face, and there was a little bit o f mischief about her,” he said.

Cllr Foster said he remembered one time when the council was at its former site in Granville Street when they had put Mrs Fairbank in a lift and she had ended up in the basement. “We could hear her shouting from the basement, but we couldn’t reach her because all the doors were closed. She was a great mentor, I will really miss her.”

Cllr Andy Solloway, leader of the Independent group on the council, said it had not seemed that long ago since councillors had gathered for her retirement.

Mrs Fairbank was a ‘great councillor’ and a ‘lovely person’ he said. “She not only stood up for the people she represented, but also for the people she didn’t. She didn’t just care about the bus station, but she was also hot on waste management. Pat was a superb opposition councillor, even when she was not in opposition, “ he said.

Cllr Robert Heseltine said Mrs Fairbank was the ‘least political politician’ that Craven had ever had who had fought like a terrier on issues she cared about.

Cllr Andy Brown, who was elected into her seat after she retired, said he had been struck how well liked and respected she had been in the ward.

Cllr David Staveley, chairman of the select committee, added: “Pat was a genuine, kind-hearted person and will be greatly missed.”