The family of a mum of three who has died at the age of 86 made sure she got a spectacular send off.

Sylvia Humble, will be a recognisable name to many in the Tyne Valley, thanks to her work at Robbs in the 1950s.

However, she spent much of her life in the south of England, before returning to the North East in later life.

Sylvia, nee Salkeld, was born at the former Bridge End Hospital in Corbridge on August 19, 1934.

She was brought up in Hexham and attended the Sele School.

On leaving school she worked at the much-loved Robbs department store in Hexham in the office, dealing with credit control and as an office clerk.

There, she met her future husband – the brother of her work colleague Vi Baron – Henry Humble, known as Harry.

The pair crossed paths again in 1955, and they went on to get married at Hexham Abbey on May 24, 1958.

The following year, 1959, they moved to the south of the country as Harry, who was a carpenter by trade, sought work.

He took a job as a sheet metal worker and the couple lived in Aldershot in Hampshire until 1974, before moving to Camberley in Surrey.

On arrival in Aldershot, Sylvia worked for a furniture shop as an office clerk, before taking a Saturday job working as a credit controller.

Despite the fact she excelled at maths and arithmetic, Sylvia focused on being a full-time mum, bringing up her and Harry’s sons David and Peter, and their daughter Dawn.

Tragically, Harry died in 1988 after suffering heart failure, but Sylvia remained in Surrey until 2015, when she moved closer to family on the south coast at Portsmouth.

However, family members moved to Catton in 2017, and Sylvia took the chance to return to Northumberland, only a few miles from where she grew up.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2018, but spent the latter part of her life in Catton.

Sylvia lived an active life – she loved to travel and enjoyed time spent socialising with friends.

Before moving back up to the North East, she was an active member of the Frimly Green Social Club, where she organised whists, and played bingo and darts. Sylvia also enjoyed dancing.

Sylvia died on November 3 in Hexham Hospital, after spending 10 days in Low Gate care home. Her family said she was well looked-after at both organisations, and thanked staff for their dedication.

Sylvia’s funeral, at Hexham Abbey last Friday, was a spectacular affair.

Her son, David, had previously worked in the funeral business and fulfilled his promise to his mum of organising the event himself.

Four horses and a carriage were hired from North East Carriage Company, and a limousine from J Dickinson Funeral Directors of Gunnerton, and they made the journey from Catton to Hexham Abbey.

A traditional service took place, before David, Peter and Dawn released doves in honour of their mum.

A burial then took place at St Andrew’s cemetery in Hexham.