Sue Riach was devoted to the Royal British Legion

Tributes have been paid to a woman who has been described as a “wonderful lady with a huge heart”.

Sue Riach, from Workington, sadly passed away this week. She was diagnosed with liver cancer but didn’t let this stop her in her work.

Sue was well-known for working with Workington British Legion and would always go above and beyond to support and promote the work that they did in the six years she was part of the team.

Lesley Jackson, Royal British Legion branch secretary, said: “She has just shown utter care and passion for everything we are involved with.

“She was the chairwoman of the women’s section of the Royal British Legion in Workington and has brought that on in leaps and bounds.

“She’s such a caring person and her passion for the armed forces outshone everyone else’s.

“She was such a lovely person to be involved with.”

Sue was known for dedicating so much of her time to the Royal British Legion and devoting as much time as she could to those who were members of it.

Mrs Jackson said: "She was a really good friend to me and everyone else who is in our legion family.

"She took care of everyone. We're going to call the poppy lounge after her.

"It didn't matter who you were she always had time for you.

"She always had a passion for everything right, military right.

"We've never looked back from the enthusiasm she's shown throughout various functions we have done.

"She's always gone over and above with everything she has done."

Even during lockdown Sue was known for calling up care homes and asking how the veterans were doing and if they needed anything, despite being poorly herself.

On VE Day Mrs Jackson organised a special ride past Sue's house as they knew she was unable to leave her home and they didn't want her to miss out on any of the celebrations.

Sue also worked at the Together Fitness and Wellbeing Centre in Workington.

After starting out as a member of the gym her passion quickly became apparent and she became an instructor.

Janine Ward, a friend of Sue’s and her manager, said: “She was such a lovely lady. Always there to listen, always there for others.

“She’d put others above herself all the time. She was absolutely fantastic and I’m so sad. She was someone you can always rely on and has done so much work for the Legion.”

Sue was also heavily involved in the post-natal project at the gym helping new mums with mental health.

Mrs Ward added: "She's done so much for the legion, she's was so hard working.

"She was teaching classes up until two weeks before she got diagnosed.

"Her commitment to her family, she'd do everything for them.

"She always put them above herself."

Speaking about what she would remember most about Sue Mrs Ward said: "Personally she helped me through a very hard time with my mood.

"She helped me with some spiritual sides of things, she was always there to talk to.

"From work, it was that she achieved an 11 minute wall sit, bouncing to rock and the six minute plank.

"There's not many people that can do that. It's amazing. She was just an absolutely genuine angel."

Sue is survived by her children Dane and Luke as well as her husband Lee.