A FAMILY have paid tribute to a judo-loving great-grandmother from York who has died at the age of 82.

Sheila Locker was a judo teacher for more than 20 years at York’s Old Priory Judo Club, which was founded by her father Phil Edwards in 1947 and originally run from the Old Priory Youth Club in Nunnery Lane. She also taught Tai Chi.

She had practised judo since the age of 13 and was teaching youngsters until her late 60s.

The mother-of-two, who had three grandchildren and five great grandchildren, died on February 10 after a battle with pneumonia. She had also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease since 2009.

Her daughter Dani said: “Mum had one of the biggest smiles. She was a lovely woman and had time for people.

“She had a very big personality and was very well liked and well known. She was funny and quick-witted.”

Her family are expecting people from across the country to attend her funeral on March 20 at York Crematorium, near Bishopthorpe, starting at 1pm.

Judo was a big part of Sheila’s life, Dani added. Sheila was taught at the Old Priory Judo Club by her father, and also by Gunji Koizumi, a Japanese master of judo, when he used to visit York.

She competed for Britain at an international competition in London in 1953. In 1968, she gained her black belt and in 1976 she took over the running of the Old Priory club.

She taught judo mainly on a voluntary basis when she was not at work. She had various full-time jobs in her life, including working as a state enrolled nurse at Clifton Hospital. She was involved with the Old Priory club up until 2004. The club is today based in the Moor Lane Youth Centre, in Dringhouses.

Sheila’s husband Edward Locker, who she married in 1955, died in 2015. She lived in Acomb before moving to the Amelia House Care Home, in Rawcliffe, which is where she was living before she died.