TRIBUTES have been paid to former Selby town mayor Joyce Dyson, who has died.

Mrs Dyson spent 12 years on Selby District Council and more than 25 years on Selby Town Council, was mayor of Selby in 2003 and became chair of the district council in 2007.

Her son Michael was Mrs Dyson's consort when she was chair of the council and took over the role when she stepped down from the district council in 2011, making her his consort.

Michael said: "My grandparents managed the swimming baths, before it was demolished for the Abbey Leisure Centre. They lived on the premises since 1910 and in 1949 my mother and father, Teddy, were appointed joint manager, and virtually ran the baths.

"My father died in about 1985 and mum continued until it closed in about 1992. She was so very proud that the Dyson family had done over 100 years of service to Selby, which is not something many people can say."

Councillor Mark Crane, current leader of the district council, was voted onto the authority in 1999, the same years as Mrs Dyson.

He said: "Joyce was tenacious on issues and fought for them, particularly for the town, which she obviously loved.

"If there was something she believed in, she would quietly chip away at it until it either happened or didn't, whichever she wanted, which is what you would want in a councillor."

Cllr Crane said Mrs Dyson was proud of her time as chair of the council, and looked back with great fondness on being invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party.

Mrs Dyson is survived by her sons Michael and John, and one grandchild, Sarah.

Cllr Crane said: "It was always a pleasure to work with her. We got on very well on a personal level and I don't think anyone would say anything different. She made friends across the political divide."

Town councillor Steve Shaw-Wright said: "Joyce will be sorely missed within not just the town but she did an awful lot of work across the district.

"During the last floods, she was staffing the emergency phones at the council and making a big impact. I liked Joyce, she had a lot of time for the town and was always keen on supporting anything that could benefit Selby."

Mr Shaw-Wright said he was reminded of a Shakespeare quote whenever he thought of Mrs Dyson.

He said: "'Though she be little, she be fierce', that reminded me of Joyce, as she was only little, but she was very tenacious."

A funeral service will be held at Selby Abbey on Thursday, August 27. Donations in lieu of flowers to the Abbey.