MONEY has been donated to a Lourdes pilgrimage group in memory of a woman who devoted her life to the work.

Shirley Tarpy led the Keighley Lourdes 2000 group which massively supported Massabielle, a group that takes sick and elderly pilgrims to the French shrine every year.

After Mrs Tarpy died recently, Keighley-based Melia Powell Family Funeral Care donated £3,000 to the Massabielle group.

Michael Devlin, the Massabielle treasurer, said the company’s director Brian Langford, who made the donation, had accompanied the Massabielle group to Lourdes on many occasions.

Members of the Keighley Lourdes 2000 Group have decided to disband following the death of its founder and charismatic leader Mrs Tarpy.

Mr Devlin said: “For many years the ladies have helped sick and elderly pilgrims travelling to Lourdes, whilst offering support and encouragement to the student carers from the Holy Family Catholic School who accompanied them.

“Mr Langford made the generous donation to honour the memory of Mrs Tarpy and in recognition of her outstanding example to others.

“At the final meeting of Lourdes 2000, Pat Sutcliffe, the former treasurer, expressed her grateful thanks when she said, ‘Shirley would have been thrilled!’.”