CRAVEN has lost one of its staunchest supporters with the death of district councillor Janet Gott.

Janet, who had represented Skipton's East ward on Craven District Council for 16 years, died at her home on Wednesday, aged 64.

An Independent, she served two terms as council chairman and sat on numerous local committees and groups.

Indeed an indication of her diverse interests is found in articles and picture elsewhere in the Herald. These have been used with the permission of her family.

Janet was an ardent campaigner for the district, and was one the key figures in Skipton's bid to get closed circuit television. It was only this week that the Home Office announced the bid had been successful.

Her unstinting efforts were renowned across Craven and tributes have been flooding in.

Coun Carl Lis, a fellow Independent on Craven District Council, said the district had lost its principal guardian of all that was right, just and fair.

"The people of Skipton and Craven had a true friend whose door was always open for help, advice and a sympathetic ear. People came first with Janet, and she would move mountains to help them.

"As a colleague, she was loved and respected by all, and while we will not sit with her again, her legacy will live on."

And, at an emotional meeting of Craven's economic and community development on Wednesday, members observed a minute's silence.

Several councillors were in tears as Coun Ken Hart paid tribute to Janet. "She was a shining example to us all. We do celebrate Janet's life, a life that has joyfully touched so many lives in Craven," he said.

Council officers also paid their own tribute.

Rachel Mann, executive director, said: "Janet was well liked and respected by the council's employees and we have all been greatly saddened by her death.

"She devoted her life to helping others, which is clearly demonstrated by all the local organisations she was involved with.

"Janet was a very selfless and generous person, and would always help someone else before she helped herself. Her busy life has touched many and she will be sadly missed."

One of her interests was fighting crime.

She was a magistrate for several years, chaired the Crime Prevention Panel and the Craven Community Safety Partnership, and spearheaded a campaign to save the local police division. Sadly it proved unsuccessful.

North Yorkshire Police's area commander Supt Andy Parker said: "From a police perspective, Janet was a terrific friend to us over the years, and we will all miss her."

And Alan Atkins, who retired as community safety officer last month, said: "She will be sadly missed not only by myself but the whole community of Craven.

"She was always a guiding light, and nothing was too much trouble."

Another of Janet's "babies" was Craven YMCA, where she chaired the board of directors. She also sat on the regional council.

General secretary Julia Cuttriss Steels said everyone was absolutely devastated.

"She was a mother to us all, and everyone knew her and respected her views because they came from the heart. The future youth of Craven will miss out," she added.

Janet also chaired the Skipton Community Youth and Education Committee, and was a governor at Water Street School.

Further tribute was paid by Sylvia Valentine, manager of Craven Citizens' Advice Bureau - another organisation where Janet was chairman.

"She will be greatly missed by everyone at the bureau, and indeed by all the organisations to which she gave her time and energies. We have lost a friend and a champion of our cause.

"She has been a great fighter for the people of Craven, and supporter of so many good causes that she will be difficult to replace.

"We offer our sincere condolences to her family, and hope they will draw comfort from the knowledge that Janet was held in such high regard by so many people."

Born in Addingham, Janet was educated in Silsden before winning a scholarship to Skipton Girls' High School.

During her career, she worked in the accounts departments of Skipton Building Society, and Ilkley firms Spooners engineers and Tunnicliffe's garage.

She moved to Skipton in 1969, and married her husband, Peter, two years later. They have a son, Roland.

The family is organising a private funeral service, but Craven District Council and the YMCA are hoping to arrange a memorial service in the near future.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.