FAMILY and friends paid their last respects to the woman behind legendary club chairman Bob Lord at her funeral yesterday.

Hilda Lord, who had been widowed for 25 years, died at the age of 98, at Moorhead Residential Home in Accrington last Friday.

The funeral was held at St John's Church, Read, followed by interment in the churchyard.

Clarets legend Jimmy McIlroy, 74, who was part of the championship winning team of 1960, said Hilda was involved in the Clarets' glory years of the late 50s and 60s.

The Northern Ireland international, who made 497 appearances for the Clarets, said: "Like her husband, who has gone, this is the end of another chapter of the great days at Turf Moor."

Bob Lord, who died in 1981, was chairman of the club for 25 years during Burnley's golden era in the top flight.

Hilda was a resident of Abiden Rest Home, Rosehill Road, Burnley, until three years ago, when she moved to Accrington.

In recent years she returned to Turf Moor when the club launched the When We Were Kings and the Rhapsody in Claret and Blue videos.

She was also present in 1999 at the officially opening of the Jimmy McIlroy stand.

Burnley chief executive Dave Edmundson said his thoughts were with Hilda's family: "Obviously she was very much the wife of probably the biggest influence on Burnley Football Club in its history," he said.

"The club is mourning for a link with its wonderful past that is no longer with us."

Hilda leaves her daughters Barbara and Margaret, grandchildren Lyn and Steven and great grandchildren George and Ellie.