TRIBUTES to a loving mum, grandma and great grandma were paid to 89-year-old Doris Clarkson this week.

Her funeral was held at Silsden Methodist Church on Monday, following her death from cancer at The Raikes Residential Care Home on October 4.

Until last month she had lived in Bradley Road for 33 years.

After growing up in Bridgnorth in Shropshire, Mrs Clarkson moved to Silsden after the Second World War to take up a job as nanny to Major Colin Hill’s family. She had been his head cook in the officers’ mess during the conflict.

She later worked at Silsden footwear wholesalers Charlie Green’s, and was a waitress at Steeton Hall Hotel in the 1980s.

She married Charles Clarkson in 1949, and the couple were well-known in Silsden for their fruit and vegetable growing, as well as for their involvement in Silsden Horticultural Society.

For many years Mrs Clarkson was the top prize-winner at the horticultural show for her cakes and jams, taking the Rose Bowl trophy three years running during 1988-90. She went onto judge the baking section of the show.

Her grandson, Stuart Clarkson, read the eulogy at Mrs Clarkson’s funeral. He said: “Food played a massive part in our family’s life when I was growing up.

“Grandma and grandad’s homegrown raspberries and strawberries were the best I’ve ever known, and they used to sell their tomatoes in the old greengrocer’s at the bottom of Briggate every year.”

Floral arrangements at the funeral included carrots, runner beans and other vegetables Mrs Clarkson would grow each year. As her coffin was carried out of the church, the congregation heard the late Mr and Mrs Clarkson singing their rendition of Love’s Old Sweet Song on a recording from 1960 made at renowned pianist Harold Kitchen’s house in Silsden.

Mr Clarkson said: “My grandma had an amazing life, but seemed noticeably lost without granddad in the 20 months since he died. I know she missed him enormously so at least they’re now in the same place, back together again forever. She’ll be remembered by so many people as a kind and considerate lady.”

Mrs Clarkson is survived by one sister, Daisy, children Margaret Simpson and David Clarkson, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.