FORMER colleagues of a Ribble Valley tourism pioneer said she would be sadly missed after she died at the age of 72.

Mary Parker, of Slaidburn, became manager of Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre in the late 1980s and remained there for the next 13 years until her retirement.

One of Mrs Parker’s biggest achievements came in 1992 when she helped launch Dunsop Bridge as the “Centre of the Kingdom” and got it confirmed by Ordnance Survey that it was the closest village to the exact centre of the British Isles.

She also helped keep tourism going during the outbreak of Foot and Mouth in 2001 even though it devastated many parts of this Ribble Valley.

Rebecca Kay, head of tourism at the council, said: “Mary was one of the pioneers of Ribble Valley tourism and her boundless enthusiasm and dedication will be sadly missed.”

Mrs Parker was a former Sunday school teacher and warden of St Andrew's Church, Slaidburn, was involved with Newton Village Hall, Slaidburn WI, Hodder Valley Show, Slaidburn School, Ribble Valley Tourism Association, and was a former president of Slaidburn Young Farmers’ club.

Mrs Parker died last month.