TRIBUTES poured in for a “unique and selfless” woman who packed halls throughout the borough.

Medium Una Pearce, 85, of Crowther Close, Crimble, Slaithwaite, passed away at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on October 12 following a long battle with cancer.

Charity organisers, spiritualists and members of the public have been speaking of the warmth and unique gift of the clairvoyant, who was “full of love for her fellow human being” and gave much of her time to others.

Many recently-bereaved people sought comfort from her and she maintained an open door policy. No matter how busy she was, Una would not turn anyone away.

As soon as it was announced that she was holding a meeting in a church, a civic hall or theatre, the tickets would sell out. But she never earned a penny for herself, all the proceeds were donated to good causes. Over the years she raised a six-figure sum for charities including Kirkwood Hospice, Cancer Research, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Aye Eye, and the Forget Me Not Trust.

Una was the daughter of an atheist joiner and undertaker father and a mother who attended Milnsbridge Baptist Church. She was about 12 years old when she first discovered she had certain unusual and special feelings. At a spiritualist meeting she attended with a friend, she was told she could be a medium.

In her early 20s, Una heard her first “voice” and throughout her adult life, held meetings at which she seemed to be able to link the voices in her head with messages for members of the audience.

Over the last 60 years, she built up a large and devoted following around the district. Una never claimed to have a spirit guide or to see spirits, but believed that the voices she could hear were those of people who had died.

From the mid 1980s to the late 90s Una held meetings and built up a following in Slaithwaite. Originally held in the Civic Hall, the meetings proved so popular that they had to move to a larger venue at the Leisure Centre.

Before she died, Una wrote a book about her unusual life, which daughter-in-law Elaine Brown is hoping to get published.

Tom Mair, President of Huddersfield Spiritualist Church, said: “She was a lovely lady, very generous with her time. She was a happy and uplifting person with a keen sense of humour and her thoughts were always of other people.

“Una had a gift and wherever she appeared, she was guaranteed a full house. She was so well known, but never sought acknowledgement or reward for herself.”

Vera Parojcic, chairman of the eye charity Aye Eye, said: “Una was an amazing, genuine lady with a love for her fellow human beings.

“She was born with her talent of spirituality. Normally a very shy, unassuming person, she was totally absorbed and fluent when giving one of her readings. Up to the end, she never complained about her illness and she will be greatly missed.”

Gina Fielding, of the Forget Me Not Trust, said: “We are so grateful to Una for all the support she gave us over many, many years. She was involved with the Trust from the beginning and attended the very first meeting with the founder.

“Over the years, she raised many thousands of pounds for us and it is thanks to Una and people like her that will soon be opening our doors to support our families.”

A funeral service will be held at Quarmby Spiritualist Church at 1.30pm on Thursday (October 20) followed by committal at Huddersfield Crematorium at 3pm.

Una was a devoted wife to Bill, who died 20 years ago and mother to Brian, Stuart and Graham. She also had four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.