A Women’s Institute treasurer, who also served a number of island charities and groups for many years, has died at the age of 80.

Mary Cringle of Ballabeg, who in 2018 won the Jurby Ambassadors Cup as a long-serving member of the island’s WIs, will be fondly remembered for dedicating much of her life to the community.

The stalwart member died on November 21 following a battle with illness.

Originally from Regaby, she married Noel Cringle - a former President of Tynwald and Speaker of the House of Keys - nearly 60 years ago before settling in Ballabeg.

She has two sons, Murray and Mark, and four grandchildren Rachael, Philip, Kai and Oliver.

A spokesman from Ballabeg WI said: ’Mary was a wonderful person to work with. Nothing was too much trouble for her and she was a very educated lady in whatever she took part in.

’As a founding member of Ballabeg WI, she had been with us for 20 years and over that time she served in three roles: president, secretary and treasurer. Previous to that, she was a long-serving member of the Arbory WI.

’She was great at crafts and very talented in music, having played the piano and was the leader of the Ballabeg Hand Bell Group. Mary will be sadly missed by all of us.’

Formerly a magistrate and a chairman of the Isle of Man Magistrates’ Association, Mrs Cringle had often carried out prison visits, she supported The Children’s Centre and was the first secretary of the island’s Lady Farmers, which she helped set up in 1965.

Angela Southern, secretary of Lady Farmers which supports young female farmers and farmers’ wives, said: ’She was such a lovely, hardworking lady.

’We’re shocked to hear about her passing and send our sympathies to Noel, Murray and Mark and other family members. It’s a big loss to the farming fraternity.’

A funeral was held on Thursday last week at the Ballabeg Methodist Chapel, where she had served as organist for more than 50 years.

Donations in lieu of flowers were sent to the Ballabeg Methodist Chapel and the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association, Port Erin branch both of which she had actively supported.