A CELEBRATION of the life of former Craven District Council chairman Janet Gott will take place next month.

Janet, who had represented Skipton's East ward for 16 years, died last week, aged 64.

Now friends can pay their respects to a woman described as Craven's principal guardian at a thanksgiving event in the Clifford Suite of the Black Horse Hotel, Skipton, on Tuesday February 15.

There will be several tributes from groups with which Janet was closely involved. These included Craven YMCA, the local Community Safety Partnership, Citizens' Advice Bureau, Aireville and Water Street Schools, Craven Community and Youth Education and Victim Support.

Janet's husband, Peter, and their son Roland, are expected to attend, and Craven Council's former chief executive Gill Taylor is due to return for the event.

Meanwhile, further tribute has been paid to Janet by Andrew Rankine, a fellow Independent member of Craven Council.

He said: "She was a hard working councillor loved by many of her constituents and fellow councillors. Many looked forward to being on one of Janet's committees because she always brought in her home made cakes for a tea break.

"She was a joy to work with and Skipton is a lonelier place without her."

The thanksgiving service will start at 7.30pm, and donations will be taken for Craven YMCA.

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