Firefighters stood silently to attention as they provided a guard of honour at the funeral of a much-loved former colleague.

For nearly 40 years, west Cumbria born Edna Dawson devoted her professional life to Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, and fire crews were there to pay their respects for her final journey.

With their helmets removed and held at their sides, the dozen fire-fighters of the Red Watch crews from east and west of the city formed guard of honour at Carlisle Crematorium as Edna’s coffin arrived for her funeral service following her death at 96.

“This lady served us for 40 years so it’s the least we can do for her,” said Station Manager George Sansom.

Retired firefighters at the service spoke of their affection and respect for Mrs Dawson, of Oswald Street, off London Road.

Born in Cleator, in 1919, she had joined the Woman’s Auxillary Air Force in World War Two. She joined the fire service at 22, and spent many years working in control rooms, where her key duty was to mobilise crews following 999 calls.

Respected by all who worked with her, she developed an encyclopedic knowledge of her Cumbrian patch – vital for the fire crews striving to get to emergency incidents as quickly as possible.

Retired firefighter Peter Beeby, 73, said: “She was always dedicated and always had everybody’s best interests at heart. I suppose in some ways she mothered us – but always in a good way.

“She seemed to know everything about Carlisle.”

Fellow former firefighter Nigel Dean, 77, said: “She was responsible for looking after an area covering 600 square miles. “She knew all her areas so well – including Silloth, Wigton, Brampton, Aspatria.”

Funeral celebrant Benet Waterman said Mrs Dawson had left a special legacy of memories.

She said: “Edna devoted her entire working life to the fire service – 40 years of which she was rightly very proud. It would come up in almost every conversation and it clearly meant everything to her. For a long time after leaving the service, she met up with her ex-colleagues and had special invitations to events. She was highly though of and greatly liked.”

She had also been passionate about her view that the rescue services should be organised and run locally.

The eulogy ended with the words: “Hers was a long and well-lived life.”

Relative Audrey Devine, from Cleator Moor, said Mrs Dawson was an utterly unselfish person who would have done anything for anybody.