A LEADING Bedale businesswoman and founder member of Bedale and District Ladies Coffee Club has died aged 87.

Arthur and Mary Dalton are best remembered for selling TV and radio sets, jewellery and gifts from their shop for 22 years. The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2001.

Mrs Dalton, born into a farming family at Ainderby Quernhow, near Thirsk, was called up for wartime work in 1941, working in aircraft fitting in Leeds.

She later became an inspector of gun carriages.

In 1958, Mr and Mrs Dalton bought the Bedale business of W G Watson, which dealt in cycles, radios and guns, and moved the electrical side into new premises in the former Fleece hotel.

They kept the Watson name and ran the business until 1980, when they retired and sold it to Maxwells of Northallerton. The shop is now a cafe.

Mrs Dalton served customers, kept the books and acted as buyer when the business also began selling jewellery and gifts.

Mrs Dalton, of Wycar, Bedale, was a founder member of Bedale District Ladies Coffee Club. She was also on the Bedale Welfare Committee for 13 years and was a former member of Bedale WI.

Her interests included gardening, dressmaking, local history, and watching showjumping, snooker and wildlife.

She leaves her husband and three grandsons. A funeral service took place in St Gregory's Church, Bedale.