Tributes paid to ‘vibrant’ great-grandmother

Cora Lockwood (neé Redman) was an active member of St Luke’s Mission Church and later St Thomas the Apostle Church, supporting its work into her nineties.

She volunteers and fundraised for the churches in Soothill and Batley for several decades along with her late husband Clifford Lockwood, a Liberal councillor for Batley and Kirklees.

Her son Nigel said: “As a character, the first thing people would say would be how calm, dignified, patient and quiet she was – but very strong.

“Her and my dad loved Soothill and supported the village. Our house was always welcoming with an open door and so always seemed to be full of visitors.”

Mrs Lockwood was a member of the Mothers’ Union and Children’s Society, who commemorated her 40 years of service with a celebratory lunch two years ago.

She had also hosted twice-weekly youth dances at St Luke’s, and once led the congregation to the mosque in Soothill for an inter-faith meal.

Granddaughter Elizabeth Harrison said: “Everybody commented on what a vibrant spirit she had - a great sense of humour.”

A lifelong Soothill resident, Mrs Lockwood attended Gregory Street and Mill Lane schools.

She later worked in textile mills in the area before marrying Mr Lockwood at Batley Parish Church in 1941.

Mrs Lockwood served as a bus conductor during the war and had her first child, Diane, in 1945.

She had four grandsons, two granddaughters and three great-granddaughters.

Granddaughter Victoria Harrison added: “Right up into her nineties she made time to visit her friends, relatives and those in the town who were less mobile.”

Mrs Lockwood, 94, passed away at Stone Gables Residential Home on May 12.

Her funeral will be held at St Thomas the Apostle in Grosvener Road, Batley, on Wednesday at 1.15pm.