TRIBUTES have been paid to a great grandmother who helped preserve a stately home for future generations.

Diana Parker, who lived at Browsholme Hall in the Ribble Valley, was the mother of the current Bowbearer of the Forest of Bowland, Robert Parker, and passed away last week, aged 93.

The mother of three, grandmother of seven and great grandmother of six was born in 1920 in Sherringham, Norfolk.

She married Captain John Jervis in 1941 and they had two children in 1943. He was killed in action two days after D-Day in July 1944.

Mrs Parker brought up the children in Suffolk, while working as a secretary to the Earl of Cranbrook, and helped him in the writing of the classic anthology of Suffolk verse, Parnassian Molehill.

In 1953, she married Edmund Parker and their son Robert was born a year later.

They lived in Cambridge until 1978 and she became an active supporter of many local charities and served for 20 years as a governor of Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Mrs Parker played a full role in the restoration of Browsholme Hall from 1978.

The hall had belonged to the family since before the present house was built on the site in 1507.

She also led guided tours around the property while it was open to the public.

A keen gardener, she served as the chairman of the Ribble Valley branch of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

Her son, Simon Jervis, said: “My mother was a person of great intelligence and distinction.

“She had a long and interesting life and enjoyed her family and friends.

“She did much to preserve her historic home, Browsholme Hall, for posterity.

“She will be greatly missed by her family and she was a lovely person.”

A funeral service will be held on Thursday at St Helen’s Church, Waddington, at noon.