Carlisle’s St Cuthbert’s Church was packed as hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to former Carlisle Mayor Jacquelyne Geddes.

Caring, stylish, and committed to her community, Mrs Geddes was widely known and respected across Carlisle after serving as a Stanwix Carlisle city councillor for 22 years. So many people turned up for her funeral service yesterday that some had to sit in the church’s first-floor gallery.

Those present included former Carlisle MP Eric Martlew, trade union boss Craig Johnston, and all of Carlisle’s most senior city councillors, including council leader Colin Glover.

In the eulogy, The Reverend Keith Teasdale outlined how Mrs Geddes began her education in Longtown before studying at Caldew School and then Carlisle Technical College.

After this, she studied graphic design at Carlisle Art College. “In September, 1972,” said the Reverend Teasedale, “she married Will, the love of her life, and began a lifelong partnership.”

Various jobs followed, including ones at a wedding photography studio in Gretna, and stints in the personnel departments of both the Co-op Dairy, and at the Vyella factory in Carlisle.

The Reverend said: “Jacquie was kept busy - especially when her two sons came along, Jonathan and Richard, and she became a full-time mother. Alongside this she ran a bed and breakfast from her home in Etterby Street, often helping students out with accommodation.”

In 1992, Mrs Geddes was elected to Carlisle City Council. Becoming mayor in 2008, she was a wonderful ambassador for the city.

The Reverend Teasdale describe one of his early meetings with Mrs Geddes, when she was organising a councillors conference.

Knowing he had only recently arrived in Carlisle, Mrs Geddes ensured the Reverend sat next to councillors from the north east where he had come from so that he could mix with people who were familiar.

Mrs Geddes was a deeply caring person, said Rev Teasdale, always tending to people’s needs, he said.

Among the kind things she did was organising trips to Cumbria for children from Chernobyl in Russia, after the area’s nuclear power plant disaster.She helped many people quietly, behind the scenes.

A proud mother and grandmother, she loved gardening, cooking, and family occasions.

She was also gifted as a communicator, known for her eloquent speeches in the Council chamber.

Rev Teasdale added: “The tributes from all political parties have been wonderful. She crossed the divide. She was a friend to many but the most important thing in her life was definitely her family. If Will and the family were alright, she was alright. They were at the centre of her life.”