JACQUELYNE Geddes compared being Mayor of Carlisle to the role of a fighter pilot. It was high-speed journey tinged with mystery and excitement, she said.

The popular, long-standing Conservative councillor proudly represented the city as it's first citizen in 2008/2009.

For her, it was the culmination of 16 years of service to Carlisle City Council.

She'd become the 13th woman to be mayor of Carlisle, a post that had been held by 410 men since 1231.

During her year as Carlisle's mayor Jacquelyne, who died aged 66 on Sunday, raised more than £33,000 for her nominated charities, the lion’s share going to the Carlisle branch of Mencap.

Elected as Stanwix ward councillor in 1993, the mum-of-two went on to serve a total of 22 years.

The vast list of roles and responsibilities she took on in her political career reflect her dedication to both her community and council.

She was appointed on to the council's ruling executive in 2001 and held the portfolios of Corporate Resources and then Learning and Development.

Keen that councillors were given the skills they needed to do the job they had been elected to do, she was also part of the Learning and Skills Council.

She represented Carlisle on the National Association of Councillors and was an East Cumbria Community Health council member who assisted in raising standards of the food in the Cumberland Infirmary.

Added to this were her community roles in her ward.

Jacquelyne was a member of Stanwix Primary School PTA and was part of the governing body for ten years. She also supported Stanwix Community Centre which has become an integral to the area.

Born in August 1952 to parents Sally and Jack Kirkup of Longtown, her father was a long-serving MOD Longtown employee and her mother worked at Carr’s of Carlisle, before raising five children.

She attended Lochinvar School in Longtown before moving on to Caldew School in Dalston. She later studied business at Carlisle Technical College and Carlisle College of Art and Design.

Armed with a diploma in graphic design and recognition from the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers SIAD, she moved to London to work for THM Design Holborn specialising in package design.

Jacquelyne returned to Carlisle after marrying her husband William in 1972. The couple, who had two sons Jonathan and Richard, lived in Stanwix for 37 years, where they ran a small guest house.

She retrained with Metal Box and Carrington Viyella.

Described as someone who cared for those in need, prior to her election she became a founding member of Carlisle Chernobyl Children in Danger, an organisation that brought groups of children to Carlisle for recuperative care.

She funded the education of a young Belarussian girl and a boy from South Africa and also hosted French exchange students who were studying English at Austin Friars.

She became a grandmother in 2007 and enjoyed travelling in Africa and the Far East. She also liked reading, jazz music and ethnic cookery.