A MUM-OF-TWO, described as one of the most helpful people you could meet, has died at the age of 56.

Diane Holt was well known around Read and Padiham and become a regular at Read Cricket Club thanks to her son’s love of the game.

A former medical secretary who worked at Padiham Medical Practice, Diane started watching Read when her son Chris joined the club at a young age.

Chris, now 23 at the pro at Padiham Cricket Club, said: “She wasn’t much of a cricket fan but she started coming to watch me, she was incredibly supportive, she started making the tea and just generally helping out around the place.

“In the end she probably became the biggest fan, everybody knew her around the club and she was very popular.”

Diane died on January 17 after a battle with illness. Her husband Geoff, 55, is also a member and a regular at Read. As well as Chris they have a daughter, Pippa, 21.

Chris said: “The one thing everybody said about mum was that she was incredibly helpful, she was one of the most helpful people you could wish to meet and would do anything for anyone “As well as always coming to support me she would drive to Manchester and back three times a week when I was in the Lancashire academy.

“She was fantastic to have around for the family.”

Diane was born in Burnley and raised in Blacko before moving to Read in her young teens, where she ended up staying.

Diane’s funeral takes place today (Saturday) at Read Church with a wake at the Higher Trapp.