A CARING mother and wife were among the tributes paid following the death of Edna Forrest from Northallerton. Mrs Forrest, 75, the wife of Northallerton Mayor Councillor John Forrest died suddenly on January 13. A private cremation will be held on Friday January 24 followed by a service of remembrance at All Saints Church in Northallerton at 10.45am.

Councillor Forrest said he had met his wife through friends when she lived at Ravensworth and he lived at Bowes, but because he was serving in Germany with the he 3rd Carabiniers, Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards, they courted by letter until they married in October 1966.

After postings in Cyprus and Germany the couple moved to Northallerton where Edna took up a job at the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food until 1979 when the couples son Nicholas was born, joined later by daughter Samantha. Edna concentrated on looking after the family and supporting John who was elected to Northallerton Town Council in 2009, becoming Mayor in 2013, constantly creating new records as he was re-elected, currently holding the title for the sixth time.

Cllr forrest said: “She has been a wonderful wife, caring and supportive and a lovely mother and grandmother. Over the years she has been a huge support to me, helping me in my role as Mayor and always extremely proud. Edna loved crosswords and puzzles and was a great fan of competitions, she was everything to us and will be very sorely missed by us all.”

Mrs Forrest leaves her husband John, son and daughter in law Nicholas and Rebecca who live in New Zealand with their two children Lucy and Emily, and daughter and son in law Samantha and Steven. Donations in lieu of flowers are being requested for Diabetes, the British Heart Foundation and All Saints Church.