Dacre lost a resident who for more than 60 years was the life and soul of the village with the death of Nelly Metcalfe, aged 85.
She was actively involved with numerous organisations in and around Dacre, organised and assisted with many village events and was always one of the first to offer a friendly welcome to people moving into the area.
The only child of the late Richard and Dinah Cavanagh, she was born and raised at Kirkmahoe, near Dumfries, and received her education at Moffat Academy.
At the age of 16 she moved to the Eden area with her parents when her father started working as a gardener at the Clifton Hill Hotel, Clifton.
The family later moved to Dalemain, near Ullswater, after Mr Cavanagh started working in the gardens there.
They continued to live at the historic mansion until he retired in 1954, when they moved to Bridgend, Dacre.
It was at a village dance that Nelly met her future husband, Maurice Metcalfe, from Skelton, and the couple were married at Dacre in 1955.
They went on to have two daughters, Jean and Stella, and during the early 1960s the family moved to Glenhurst, Dacre, where Nelly continued to live for the rest of her life.
She worked in the home care sector for 28 years, up to the time of her retirement, but work and family commitments never prevented her taking a keen interest in Dacre village matters.
Having joined the local WI soon after moving to Dalemain, she went on to hold all the key positions within the institute, including those of secretary, chairwoman and president. She was president when the club folded recently.
She was on the parish council for many years and served as its chairwoman for a lengthy period, and was also active within the village church, St Andrew’s, where she was a regular worshipper until the last few years.
She was on the church social committee, and acted as a sidesperson.
Nelly was also a member of Stainton 130 Club, enjoyed regular social meetings at Newbiggin village hall and enjoyed playing bowls there for many years. She played darts for ladies’ teams based at the pubs at Dacre and Cliburn.
As if all these activities were not enough, she organised Christmas parties and bonfire night celebrations for children from the Dacre area, and other events in the village.
Many of those who have moved into the area have remarked how helpful and friendly she was when they arrived.
At home, she enjoyed growing fruit, vegetables and flowers, and always kept animals of some sort, including cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas.
One of the possessions in which she took most pride was the telegram she and her husband received from the Queen when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2015. He died in 2018.
She is survived by her daughters Stella Dey, Stranraer, and Jean Edmondson, Penruddock.
She had three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Although family members only attended her funeral service, held at St Andrew’s Church, Dacre, and conducted by the Rev Dorothy Derrick, many villagers stood outside their homes to show their respect and affection for Nelly.
Richardsons Funeral Directors, Penrith, had charge of the arrangements.
