CLIFFE Castle stalwart Sue Skinner has left a permanent legacy of joy following her sudden death, say fellow volunteers.

Members of Cliffe Castle Support Group have paid tribute to the huge part Sue played in the restoration of the park and museum in Keighley.

She was a leading member of the group’s forerunner, Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group, which played a key role in securing millions of pounds of Heritage Lottery Fund cash for improvements.

She went on to lead heritage walks for visitors and organise major events for Cliffe Castle, as well as volunteering with other groups in Keighley.

Speaking on behalf of the Support Group (CCSG) this week, chairman Elaine Cooper said: “The joy Cliffe Castle brings to visitors post-restoration will be her legacy.

“Without her CCSG will be much the poorer, and will miss the plans she had for future activity at Cliffe Castle.

“Her wide interest and involvement in all things cultural, natural, and historical was of great service to the community and CCSG will do all it can to further those efforts on her behalf.

“She was dedicated to the museum and the park and had a great love and knowledge of the park’s history which she demonstrated on the heritage walks she led, as well as the Timeline display she helped create for the museum’s conservatory.

“As treasurer she worked hard to acquire funds for projects not funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund such as the creation of a new play area.”

Elaine said Sue was always there to support events organised by the group, organising many events herself, including the Jubilee Celebration Of Food which brought together Keighley’s diverse communities at the time of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Elaine added: “We in CCSG will miss her as a dear colleague, the community will miss her altruism and our thoughts are with her husband Paul at this difficult time.”

Sue was also a much-loved member of the team of volunteers at Low Wood Nature Reserve in Keighley with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

A spokesman for the team said: “She and her husband of 50 years Paul have made tremendous contributions to nature conservation in the wood for over 16 years. She will be sadly missed.”

Sue was also popular member of the Friends of Park Wood. She was a director of Airedale Enterprise Services.

Wendy Spencer, from Airedale Enterprise, said Sue’s passing came as a massive shock to the organisation's staff and board members of Airedale Enterprise Services She said: "Sue served on the board of AES for over 25 years she has been a wonderful advocate of the organisation during that time, we will miss her and her devoted passion, she will be irreplaceable. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Paul and her family and friends.”

Cliffe Castle Support Group was formed last year from the merger of Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group – founded to help devise the successful bid for lottery cash – and the long-established Friends of Cliffe Castle.

Sue’s funeral is planned for May 1, but attendance is restricted due to Covid-19.