RIDERS everywhere owe a huge debt of gratitude to Lady Mary Towneley who died on February 13.

A Fellow of the British Horse Society, she was the founder of the Pennine Bridleway.

She rode the existing routes in the 1980s to reseach them and then put the idea of the Pennine Bridleway as a National Trail to the Countryside Commission.

A 40 mile circular loop of the bridleway, which cuts through Lancashire, Rochdale and Calderdale, has been named after her.

She was a key figure in the British Horse Society's access and rights of way team. In 1999 the society gave her an award in recognition of her work.

Lady Towneley set up the Lancashire Bridleways Strategy Team, which over the last six years has worked closely with Lancashire County Council to develop a strategy to improve Lancashire's bridleway network.

Lady Towneley was heavily involved with the National Federation of Bridleways and the Pack Horse Trails Trust, and she was always willing to help people set up local bridleways groups. She was also a passionate supporter of Riding for the Disabled. The Dyneley RDA group has been based at Lady Towneley's house for many years.

Lady Towneley was an inspiration to all those who knew her and worked with her.

NICHOLA GREGORY, British Horse Society, Stoneleigh Deer Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.