A FUNERAL service will be held on Friday for a leading member of the Richmond community, who died suddenly at home last week.

Fay Campion was the youngest daughter of Lady Serena James, of St Nicholas, Richmond, who died in 2000.

The longest-serving member of the Friends of the Richmond Friary Hospital, Ms Campion was also a member of the Northallerton Community Health Council and a committee member of the Richmond branch of the Red Cross.

She was also a member of the Richmond Stroke Club, the local branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and was a recent recruit for the Richmond group of the Alzheimer's Disease Society.

Richmondshire District Councillor, Jane Metcalfe, who chaired the authority last year, said: "Ms Campion was a gentle lady who loved her family and the community where she lived for most of her life.

"She was known and admired for her devotion to her late mother and not only her love for her family but for her friends and colleagues.

"Her gentle and cheerful nature will be sadly missed. I know I will miss her.''

The funeral service will be held at 2pm, at St Agatha's Church, Gilling West, followed by a private burial.