LONG-serving Craven councillor and a former chairman of the authority, Beth Graham, has died at the age of 91.

Miss Graham retired from the council in June 2004 having served on the council for 28 years as a ward member for Settle and then Settle and Ribblebanks ward. She was chairman of the authority in 1987-88 and stood for Parliament four times.

and held the office of Chairman of Policy and Finance / Policy and Resources Committee for the periods 1990 to 1993 and 1994 to 1998.

Councillor Carl Lis, lead member for Greener Craven, served on the council with Miss Graham.

He said: “Beth Graham was totally committed to the communities of North Yorkshire and the Craven District Council Settle Ward in particular for many years. She also served on the Yorkshire Dales National Park committee.

“She was tireless in pursuing any issue that she felt strongly about, I recollect getting notes from her on many occasions that she had sent to me in the early hours of the morning.

“She was also a valuable source of information across so many areas of local government. I remember going to her home on a number of occasions and being amazed by paperwork she had there; council reports going back years.

“She became an Alderman of Craven District Council in recognition of both the length and quality of her time linked to the Council.”

Miss Graham also stood for Parliament four times, and was also a councillor for North Yorkshire County Council and Settle Town Council for many years.