HUNDREDS of family and friends turned out at Huddersfield’s Holy Trinity Church to pay tribute to former Huddersfield Mayoress Madge Whittaker.

About 200 relatives and friends travelled from as far as Canada and New Zealand to celebrate the life of Mrs Whittaker, who died on October 4, aged 101, at her Edgerton home.

Mrs Whittaker, who has 16 great-grandchildren, was the next to the last Mayoress of Huddersfield – from 1972 to 1973 – before the area became part of Kirklees in 1974.

Mother-of-four Mrs Whittaker was born in Honley and went to Greenhead High School.

After leaving school Mrs Whittaker worked at Josiah France worsted mill before becoming a homemaker to husband and Huddersfield businessman William Eric Whittaker.

He served as a councillor in Huddersfield for eight years and an alderman for a further eight.

The service Holy Trinity was led by the Rev Calvert Prentis and the Rev Dr Mildred Butterworth.

It included tributes from daughters Rachel Whittaker and Jane Carter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs Whittaker, a keen artist and pianist, left her body to medical research at Leeds University.

Miss Whittaker, from London, said: “It was a great, fitting tribute to my mother. It was a happy occasion with no black clothing. She said it must be bright and cheerful in every way. We are fortunate her time here was long and she could share her joie de vivre.”

Money from the service was given to Huddersfield Friends of Church Music and Holy Trinity.