REPRESENTATIVES of the royalty attended the funeral of Mary, Lady Towneley.
The tireless campaigner on equestrian, health and disabled issues, died last Monday in Pendleside Hospice, Reedley, after a long battle against cancer. She was 65.
She was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list and in April the Princess Royal came to Burnley to ride with Lady Towneley along the local section of the Pennine bridleway for which she had campaigned and worked for over many years.
Among those who attended along with Sir Simon and members of the family were Lady Mary Mumford, representing Princess Alexandra, and Lord Martin Fitzalan Howard representing the Duke of Norfolk. Both were personal friends.
Mr Bob Shepherd represented Lord Shuttleworth, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire who is away and could not attend.
Also in the congregation were Sir David Waddington, former Home Secretary, Burnley MP, Peter Pike, and his wife, Sheila, the Mayors of Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, Pauline Clare, fire and rescue service "boss" Peter Holland and representatives of Burnley Health Trust.
Also among the congregation of 500 at St Mary's RC Church, Burnley, was nine-year-old Bethany Berry of Hapton who suffers from cerebral palsy and who met Lady Towneley through the work she did for Riding for the Disabled.
Bethany can only walk with a frame but loves horse riding and has been going to the riding for disabled scheme for five years. She attended the service in a wheelchair.
Only last Christmas she and other children went with Lady Towneley to a pantomime in Yorkshire and remembers her as a "lovely lady". The many charities and other organisations Lady Towneley was involved with were widely represented and many sent wreaths and floral tributes which were on display on the church steps.
Two white police horses also flanked the church entrance.
The Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rt Rev Canon Francis Deeney who spoke of her deep faith which allowed Lady Mary to live with God in her final days.
Wearing a pre-reformation vestment that has been in the Towneley family for many generations Canon Deeny said she had a great sense of faith as part of the rich fabric of English history. She saw that faith as a precious gift which she held in trust for her seven children and grandchildren.
The three oldest of her twelve grandchildren, Matilda O'Neill, Clementine Grant and Alice French, read prayers.
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