KATHLEEN Bray was a women whose community spirit was recognised at a high level.

In 1994, she was singled out for a Help the Aged certificate to mark her work.

It was just reward for her active role in Wooldale village life.

Mrs Bray, who has died at the age of 86, was a member of Wooldale Methodist Free Church and Wooldale Community Centre.

Through her voluntary work, she helped to raise £7,000 for charities locally and nationally, including the Christian African Relief Trust.

She organised lunches, sometimes cooking and serving for 80 elderly people in Wooldale.

She and her husband, Thomas, who died last year, had three children. The couple lived in the house in Sinking Wood, New Mill Road, Brockholes, where Mr Bray was born.

Mrs Bray worked at Moorhouse Brook's mill in New Mill before the Second World War, then went on to work at her brother's bakery shop.

In 1997 she received an invitation from MP Ann Taylor, then Leader of the House of Commons, to a Buckingham Palace garden party.

Mrs Bray was a staunch Labour Party member and was chairman of governors at Honley High School for 20 years.

Her other positions included 10 years as a member of the Huddersfield Community Health Council.