Harris Park campaigner Prema Taylor has died aged 62.

Prema, who lived in Fulwood, passed away peacefully at St. Catherine’s Hospice on Tuesday 4 January.

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She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 29 years, Matt, her daughter Elaine and her husband David, and her granddaughter, Ella.

Fellow campaigner Joanne Adams shared the news in the Friends of Harris Park Facebook group.

She wrote: “I’ve thought for days about what to write and nothing really does her justice. Prema was and will remain a true inspiration.

“My heart goes out to Matt, Elaine and all her family. She will be dearly missed.

“Prema was full of community spirit and volunteered for all sorts of activities: work in charity shops, fundraising for local charities, helping to organise activities in her neighbourhood and as most of you know, she initiated this campaign to save Harris Park.

“Prema was sadly diagnosed with cancer a few weeks after the Planning Committee for Harris Park last year. Despite her illness, she wanted to continue to campaign to save Harris Park and didn’t want any attention drawn to her condition.

“Even in her final days at St. Catherine’s, she was still messaging to see how things were going and make suggestions. We promise Prema, we will carry on and do our very best.”

Read more: Friends of Harris Park urge Preston City Council to use Levelling Up Fund to buy site for community use

Prema was born in India in May 1959 and grew up in Bangalore. Her first job was in the personnel department of an iron mining company, and she then moved to work for British Aerospace. 

Settling in Preston via Lossiemouth in Scotland, Prema dedicated 23 years to a career as a Legal Executive, obtaining an LLB Hons degree and practising as a Chartered Member of the Institute of Legal Executives, before retiring a Fellow of the Institute in 2014.

Prema’s funeral will be held at Preston Crematorium on Wednesday 19 January.

On her final journey, Prema will pass Harris Park for one final time, at around 11.45am, and make a momentary stop.

The community is invited to line the pavements on both sides of Garstang Road outside Harris Park to say their goodbyes and acknowledge the work Prema did for the historic site.

A live stream of the service will be available on the Dignity Funerals website.

Charity donations to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) are welcomed.

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