A MUCH loved woman who was the heart and soul of the community of Arnside has passed away at the age of 99.

Ruby Smith was a member and volunteer at countless local groups and organisations and such was her dedication she was made an MBE in 1996 in recognition of her work in the village.

Born in Grange-over-Sands back in February, 1920, she went to school in the town and went on to serve in HM Armed Forces in World War Two.

She married her husband George at St Paul's Church in Grange in March 1943 and she left the Armed Forces in December 1945, with the couple moving to Arnside the following year.

The couple both worked at the Co-operative store in Arnside for many years and both then became managers of Arnside Newsagents, where she was always a popular and friendly figure.

Mrs Smith loved to travel and visited Canada with the Women's Institute and also enjoyed coach holidays to Bournemouth and Eastbourne and visiting her daughter in Chelmsford and spending days in London

She was a member of Arnside Bowling Club, The Ladies Choir, the Arnside branch of the Women’s Institute, The Over 60s club, the Mothers' Union and the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Mrs Smith was also a long serving member of Arnside Parish Council and was chairman for 12 Years.

She was a regular weekly attender at St James' Church in Arnside which was a very big part of her life.

And among Mrs Smith's many ventures in helping other good causes, she helped restore Arnside’s Jetty after it was destroyed in a storm and also organised the RBL Children’s Christmas Party for many years.

She was known as a very caring and loving mother, wife and grandmother, and nothing was to much trouble for her when it came to helping others in the village of Arnside, where people always knew they could call on her for help and advice.

Mrs Smith and her husband had two children, the late Denis who was born in 1945 and Robina, known to all as Bina, in 1946.

She also had two grandchildren, Andrea and Graeme, three great grandchildren, Gavin, Jemma and Jordan, and eventually became a great-great gran to Jacob and Ruby.