A STALWART of church and community life in northern Ryedale, Libby Capstick, has died, aged 79.

Mrs Capstick had a life-long involvement with St Gregory’s Minster, Kirkdale, where her funeral was held yesterday.

She worked at the National Park visitor centre from its opening until she retired in 1992 and for 35 years was clerk to Nawton Parish Council.

For about 30 years, Mrs Capstick was a member of St Gregory’s choir.

In recent years, she devoted her time researching the life of the people named on the war memorials in Nawton, Beadlam and Wombleton, as part of a local history project.

She and her late husband, Ken, were keen walkers and she was a great enthusiast of local history, writing articles on life in the Nawton area and St Gregory’s in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Reverend John Warden, former vicar of Kirkdale Minster who gave the address at the funeral, said: “Libby was the life and soul of the community and had many friends and made such a big contribution to village life in her community. She was not only well known, but also well respected.

Mrs Capstick leaves a son, Phillip and his wife, Becky, and two grand-children.