HUNDREDS of people gathered at Selby Abbey to celebrate the life of Edna Storr, who campaigned for a national monument dedicated to the women of the Second World War.

Edna died last week aged 87. She was a gunner with the Royal Artillery during the war and campaigned tirelessly for the monument, which was unveiled by the Queen in 2005.

Born in Goole in 1923, Edna enlisted in 1940 to learn how to drive lorries. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and was assigned to the Royal Artillery on anti-aircraft guns, and served all over the country.

After moving back to Goole after the war, Edna married engineer Alf Storr in 1958 and moved to Selby, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

The campaign to commemorate the ATS started in 1996 with the intention of installing a memorial in York Minster, but the project grew and grew to a £1 million bronzed statue near the Cenotaph in Whitehall, unveiled by the Queen in 2005 during the 60th anniversary of VE Day.

Edna’s son, Phillip, said he will never forget seeing his mother at the unveiling, “chatting away to the Queen and Vera Lynn as though they were three old friends”, and said his mother had “a belief that anything could be done if you put your mind to it. She was a remarkable woman”.

Major David Robertson, former head of the memorial committee, wrote a letter to all members of the ATS Veterans Association praising Edna’s work, and said: “Some people are recognised for brave or wonderful deeds, others without thought of self give their all, in both deeds and compassion for what they believe is right and love of other people. This epitomised Edna.”

Her funeral was held at Selby Abbey, with standard-bearers from the Royal Artillery Association, the Wren Association, and a Royal British Legion member, as well as a guard of honour made up of ATS veterans.

Edna’s coffin was also draped in the Union flag. Sharon Stansfield, a serving officer and bugler from the Royal Engineers, played the Last Post and Reveille before a final blessing.