AUNTIE Rosie, one of the best-known personalities in Kirkbymoorside, has died aged 100.

Charity fundraiser and great-grand mother Rose Magson, or “Auntie Rosie” as she was affectionately known, joined a select group of people to be honoured by the town council, being awarded its eminent citizen award at the age of 90 in 2003.

Her work for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Day appeal spanned almost 40 years, raising thousands of pounds, culminating in a trip to the Royal Albert Hall at the age of 96.

Mrs Magson’s unstinting work for the community also included house-to-house collecting for such charities as Cancer Research and the Soldiers’ And Sailors’ Children appeal.

Mrs Magson, of Shaw Drive in the village, and her late husband, Percy, who died 40 years ago aged 65, struggled for many years on his farmworker’s wage bringing up their two daughters, Shirley, now 76, and Kath, 72.

To help the family income Mrs Magson did night duty at the Dale End elderly people’s home, and took in washing – charging 6p a shirt.

Kath said: “Mum’s motto in life was ‘it’s keeping going that keeps you going’ and she lived by it. She was a remarkable and fantastic lady. She was down to earth and really loved her family.

“Her love of helping other people is what led her to be called Auntie Rosie and she always had an open door for others. She always loved children and in later years technology baffled her, but she had quite a life.”

Kath said her mum recalled having to carry water from stone troughs at Rudland, near Fadmoor, where she was brought up and lived with her eight brothers and three sisters, who all pre-deceased her.

She said another proud day for her mum came when a study room at the Ryedale Folk Museum was named after her and she went along to meet local schoolchildren.

Mrs Magson was a grandmother to Angela, Wendy, Bridget and Patrick and a great grandmother to James, Sean and Grace. Her funeral took place on Tuesday at All Saint’s, Kirkbymoorside.