MAGGIE Boyle, who died this month at the age of 57, was a leading member of the local folk scene for many years.

She was known to Keighley audiences through both solo performances and as one third of female harmony group Grace Notes.

And thanks to decades of constant touring she was a familiar face to audiences of folk clubs and festivals across the UK.

With former husband Steve Tilston – himself an acclaimed singer-songwriter – Maggie was at the heart of a musical dynasty.

The pair’s son Joe played with Leeds Festival performers Random Hand and is now a solo acoustic artist, their daughter Molly Jones performs with The Coral guitarist Lee Southall, and Maggie’s stepdaughter Martha Tilston is an BBC Folk Award-nominated singer.

Maggie was brought up in a vibrant musical family in London during the 1960s and 1970s, developing a love and appreciation for traditional music and community.

As a youngster, she performed with the local branch of Irish cultural organisation Comhaltas, gaining All-Britain singing titles.

In the 1980s Maggie formed a duo with her then husband Steve Tilston, recording several highly acclaimed albums and later going on to record three solo albums.

Over the years, Maggie collaborated with luminaries such as The Chieftains, Incantation, Fairport Convention and Bert Jansch.

She regularly performed in numerous line-ups, the most significant as a duo with Paul Downes and with Lynda Hardcastle and Helen Hockenhull in Grace Notes.

Maggie also worked on Ballet Rambert’s performance piece Sargent Early’s Dream, with John Renbourne’s Ship of Fools, and on film soundtracks like Patriot Games and Legends of the Fall.

Folk singer Fay Hield, a long-time collaborator, said that throughout her musical career Maggie was dedicated to supporting younger singers and developing the folk tradition.

She was instrumental in establishing artist-run co-operatives Three’s Company and Skinnymalinks through which she helped develop new talent.

This included The Demon Barbers – who went on to win a BBC Folk Award and develop national theatre show The Lock-In – and female group The Witches of Elswick.

Maggie also organised concerts for young performers, taught at Breton Hall and Newcastle University, and pioneered radio show Kitchen Songs featuring intimate exchanges with her musical heroes.

Fay said: “After touring the country constantly for the past three decades, Maggie is well known to many throughout the folk scene.

“Those who met her, even briefly, were greeted with an open warmth and generosity of spirit they haven’t forgotten.”