AN ASTUTE York businesswoman who recently celebrated her company's 145th year of trading has died.

Edith May Clancey, ne Birch, was a partner in L Clancey & Sons scrap metal merchants, along with her three sons, Robert, Richard and Jim.

She married Ronnie Clancey, a local businessman, who along with his mother, Lillian, ran the scrap metal merchants in St Andrewgate, in York.

But on April 7, 1966, the sudden death of Mr Clancey turned Mrs Clancey's life upside down.

She had very little experience of running a business, only taking the reins once a year when Mr Clancey went down to the Rugby League Cup Final at Wembley and the odd Saturday morning.

Mr Clancey had always said that if anything should happen to him, she should sell the business.

However, left with two young sons, Robert, 11, Richard, nine, and with Jim, 18, already working in the business, she took the option to carry on. When the younger boys were old enough, they joined the firm and the brothers are all still working together.

With feisty determination, strength and a single-minded approach to business, Mrs Clancey succeeded in laying a strong foundation and winning the admiration and affection of all who met her, particularly those in what is a male-dominated industry.

Although originally in St Andrewgate, the business later expanded and moved out to Murton, from where it has been trading for 20 years.

At the age of 88, Mrs Clancey was still a regular at the yard three times a week and her life very much centred on the business and her family. She showed she was a woman of extreme determination when she attended a recent function to celebrate 145 years of trading.

Although very poorly, she made an immense effort to attend. She was taken into hospital the next day.

In addition to the three sons working in the business, Mrs Clancey also leaves a daughter, Jean, another son, Alan, a stepson, Colin, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held on Monday, at noon, at Holy Trinity Church, Heworth, York.

Updated: 12:34 Saturday, May 14, 2005