TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-respected author and local historian who has died aged 92.

Vera Chapman wrote more than 20 local history books on Darlington and the surrounding area after moving to the town in 1959 from her home in Lancashire.

Following the move to Darlington with her husband, Ken, the Manchester University geography graduate became fascinated with the town and spent hours researching its history.

She later became a founder member of the Darlington Historical Society and played an active role in the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club.

She also lectured at the former teacher training college in Trinity Road, Darlington, and served on the Durham County Local History Society, as well as the North-East Industrial Archaeology Society.

Mrs Chapman led countless walks organised by the Durham Voluntary Countryside Ranger Service and received honorary membership in 2002.

Cliff Evans, her friend and fellow member of the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club, described her as a “very knowledgeable lady”.

He said: “She liked to look around Darlington. She did an awful lot of reading about it in the library and became one of these people who knew more about Darlington than Darlington people.

“She organised a lot of walks around the Darlington area looking at the things she had been reading about.

“I think she just liked the town and when people come from somewhere else they want to get to know where they are living. She read about it and eventually became an expert.”

Mrs Chapman published her first book, Rural Darlington: Farm, Mansion and Suburb, based on her own extensive research and illustrations, in 1975, while her last book, Darlington Remembered, was published in 2005.

In 1997, Mrs Chapman celebrated her golden wedding anniversary with her husband Ken, who died in 2005.

She remained in their home in Edinburgh Drive, in Darlington, until 2008 before moving to Wakefield to be near her son, Tim.

She died peacefully on Thursday, July 2 and leaves behind her sons Tim and Andy, and grandchildren Louise and Edward.

Her funeral was held on Wednesday, July 15 at Elm Ridge Methodist Church, in Carmel Road South, Darlington.