A group that exists to identify, record and conserve native species of fungi, have donated £4,100 to Rosemere Cancer Foundation in memory of their former chairman, who lived in the Ribble Valley.

Dr Irene Ridge, who lived in Billington, died in February 2025. Born in Clitheroe in 1942, she attended Clitheroe Royal Grammar School before taking up a place at Oxford University’s Somerville College to study Botany, Biochemistry and Zoology.

37 images from charity fun day at The Commercial pub in Burnley's Harle Syke

After graduating with a first class honours degree, Dr Ridge went on to study for her doctorate and then became an Open University biology lecturer, a role she maintained until retiring in 2002.

Members of the North West Fungus Group have donated money, raised in memory of their late chairman Dr Irene Ridge, to Rosemere Cancer Centre

placeholder image — Members of the North West Fungus Group have donated money, raised in memory of their late chairman Dr Irene Ridge, to Rosemere Cancer Centre

In 1990, Dr Ridge became honorary reserve manager for Clitheroe’s Salthill and Crosshills Quarries. She also began volunteering for Lancashire Wildlife Trust and, in 1994, became a founder member of the North West Fungus Group, which she chaired from 2004 to 2021.

Dr Ridge was always willing to share her knowledge of fungi and ecology and often gave talks on both to clubs and societies across her local area. She generously left her microscopes and mycology books to the North West Fungus Group, which sold the items among themselves to raise their Rosemere Cancer Foundation donation.

Current chairman Jeanette Maddy, who succeeded Dr Ridge, said: “The donation was made possible through Irene’s thoughtful legacy of equipment and literature to the group. We felt it was fitting to donate the money raised to Rosemere Cancer Foundation as it was the charity that Irene’s family chose to support at her funeral.

“Irene would have been delighted to know that, as she had intended, her books and microscopes are being well used by other North West Fungus Group members, and that a charity supported by her family has also benefitted.”

The late Dr Ridge on a recording weekend in Keswick with the North West Fungus Group

Hannah Leahy, fundraising assistant for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “We are very grateful to Jeanette and all members of the North West Fungus Group for this wonderful donation, which will go into our general funds to support a variety of projects to improve the treatment journey of local cancer patients.”

For further information on the North West Fungus Group, which works to promote an interest in fungi across Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and parts of Clwyd, visit https://northwestfungusgroup.com