TRIBUTES have been paid the former chair of Healthwatch Cumbria and politician Helen Horne who has died after a battle with lung cancer.

The former Healthwatch boss passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family after being diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in February this year.

Helen, who has been described as ‘a force for good in Cumbria’ was the wife of late local politician and influential educator Roger Horne.

She and Roger also had son Andrew and Tim, who was a former elected member of Cumbria County Council.

A long-standing resident of Fenton, Brampton, Helen was a well-known pillar of the Cumbrian community through the many organisations she helped in her life.

It has been said that professionally and personally, Helen was a source of energy and compassion who used her time and immense dedication to improve the lives of others. As a teacher of English at Trinity School in Carlisle, Helen shaped the futures of thousands of young people.

Helen’s later years were completely devoted to public service in her work as s a non-executive director on Eden Valley Primary Care Trust,

She was elected to Cumbria County Council where she was described as a ‘formidable champion for young people, who had the wisdom to use her knowledge to best affect and support young Cumbrians’.

In this role, as throughout her life, Helen had a particular interest and focus on further education, highlighting the vital role learning plays in securing opportunities for young people.

Helen’s skills of collaboration were in full force in this role, as she brought colleagues together through a shared vision to ensure that further education in our county maintained the interests of our communities.

Whether as a board member of Cumbria Council for Voluntary Services, a volunteer with Age UK, president of Soroptimist International Carlisle, a governor of Richard Rose Morton School, or as a governor of Carlisle College, Helen used her life to make things better for the people of Cumbria.

Most recently, Helen was the chair for Healthwatch Cumbria, created in 2012. She supported and encouraged the Healthwatch team to listen to the views of thousands of people in their bid to help improve services and have Cumbria Healthwatch heard on the national stage.

At the charity, she played an integral role in ensuring that the team were energised and nurtured as they enacted her vision to listen and share the experiences of local people.

David Blacklock, CEO of Healthwatch Cumbria, said: “Helen was a passionate force for good, she dedicated her whole life to helping others, to tackling disadvantage and to supporting people to live better lives.

“Helen believed in fairness, equality and human rights.

“On a personal note, Helen and I became very good friends over the years, often enjoying a good glass of wine and a laugh together.”