Civic and political leaders in Lancaster join family and friends to say farewell to 'genuine force of nature'
The Lancaster district has said farewell to one of its most renowned public figures.
Family, friends and colleagues were joined by civic and political leaders at the funeral of Jean Yates MBE at Lancaster Crematorium on Friday, March 13 – the day before her 93rd birthday.
Jean became a city councillor for Bulk ward 50 years ago, serving through seven elections from 1976 to 2003, and also was county councillor for Heysham – where she lived – from 1997 to 2009.
She was made Mayor in 1994-95 and an honorary alderman in 2003 by Lancaster and an MBE by the nation in 2016 for her political and community service.
She was Labour candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale at the 1992 General Election and stood for the city council in Overton at the last city elections when she was 90.
A member of the Labour Party since she was 14, she received the party’s long-service award.
‘A remarkable woman’ was how Jean’s son Michael described her in his tribute at the funeral.
Celebrant Mike Brabin said she had made a huge contribution to both the city and county as a genuine force of nature.
Born in Preston in 1933, she became a member of St John Ambulance in her youth and served in the RAF in Egypt, playing cricket for the RAF team.
For 40 years she was president of the St John Ambulance Fellowship in Lancaster and Morecambe.
As a season ticket holder for Preston North End FC, she played a significant role in helping to save the club from financial distress, successfully lobbying to secure additional funding.
A treasured memory was when she saw Preston score at Wembley when she was 82.
Jean chaired a European Union committee looking at transport systems.
A highlight of her career in local politics was when she chaired the city planning committee and actively supported local developments, including the Bay Gateway link road.
“If you can actually see something that you’ve voted for making the district a better place, then it gives you a great incentive,” she said.
Campaigns which gave her most satisfaction were for Heysham Library and Heysham Mossgate Sports and Community Centre, of which she remained chair until she died.
She worked with Lancaster University and Myerscough College and engaged in many charity activities, including travelling to Uganda to see WaterAid in action.
Jean was proud to help save and develop the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster and served on the committee for the restoration of the Winter Gardens Theatre in Morecambe.
Earlier she brought well-known entertainers to The Blue Rhapsody nightclub alongside the Winter Gardens.
Jean, who died on February 20, leaves two sons Paul and Michael, daughter Laura who was her Mayoress, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Her husband Peter died in 2023.
Her funeral was attended by Mayor of Lancaster Coun Margaret Pattison, Lancashire County Council chairman County Coun Alf Clempson and Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Lizzi Collinge.
Donations in Jean’s memory were given to WaterAid.