A WOMAN who contributed greatly to North Craven and the wider community has died at the age of 69.

Barbara Johnson, from Langcliffe, was involved in many groups and organisations and was an inspiration, always doing something for someone.

Barbara was born in Settle in 1946, the youngest of Tom and May Dugdale’s three daughters. She attended Settle Primary School and was in the last all-girl intake at Settle Girls’ High School before it became Settle High School in the late 1950s.

She had trials for hockey for Yorkshire, and was a keen horsewoman. One of the horses she rode was at Close House Farm in Giggleswick, and it was here, aged 14, she met her husband-to-be, Ian, who was helping out there. Both were members of Rathmell Young Farmers’ Club. They were married in 1967 at the Zion Congregational Chapel in Settle.

Barbara studied at the Yorkshire Training College of Housecraft in Leeds, gaining her Diploma in Institutional Management. She became a school meal supervisor, working in Selby and later Knottingley.

Her first married home was in Carlton, near Selby, and the couple then moved to Lancaster and later to Hest Bank near Morecambe. During this time, their daughters – Susan and Carol – were born.

Barbara set up a canteen at Lancaster College and launched an outside catering business with a friend, as well as teaching cookery at Moor Hospital at Lancaster to prepare residents for independent living. She was a school secretary for a number of years.

Barbara and her family returned to North Craven in 1979, moving to The Mains in Giggleswick, when her husband began working in the family business, Dugdales. Barbara worked in the office at Castleberg Hospital in Giggleswick. She and Ian became club leaders of Rathmell Young Farmers’ Club and Barbara joined North Craven Flower Club, doing catering for North Ribblesdale Rugby Club and Rathmell and Wigglesworth Cricket Club.

Barbara joined Ian working in the family business and they made a great team, running the electrical and agricultural business through very difficult economic times.

For years when Settle hosted children from Chernobyl, Barbara and Ian had youngsters to stay in their home and also visited the children in their own homes.

Always active, Barbara set up a hockey club with her daughter, Susan; at the age of 55, discovered a love of skiing; and, in recent years, with Ian, she cycled from Morecambe to Scarborough for charity and walked the Moonwalk in London for Breast Cancer Care. They both helped out on the Skipton and Craven Action for Disability boat at Skipton.

In September 2006, Barbara and Ian moved to Langcliffe. Once again they threw themselves into the local community. The couple helped to launch the Langcliffe Village Show and Barbara helped raise £1,200 through a flower festival in 2014 with her friends from North Craven Flower Club. The couple also helped raise money for a defibrillator for the village.

Barbara was at her happiest when surrounded by family, especially the grandchildren – Kate, Ellie, Finley, Millie, Ethan and Archie.

Barbara was full of infectious energy and enthusiasm. She had an ability to see the good in others and bring people together. She will be much missed.