A SPORTSWOMAN known for her bringing “warmth and joy to whoever she met” has died after losing her fight with cancer.

Marlow resident Carole Wright passed away on Easter Friday.

The former ladies captain of Harleyford Golf Club in Henley Road, Marlow, was born in Burnham 1953.

The mother of three was well known in Buckinghamshire.

She moved to Marlow in 1993 with her family - including husband Michael and three children, Leon, Glenn and Katie.

Her husband, Michael, paid tribute to her.

He said: “Carole was a very popular figure and lived her whole life in the area.

“She was always direct and had a ‘no nonsense’ approach to life.

"Carole brought warmth and joy to whoever she met and will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.”

Mrs Wright was diagnosed with cancer in September last year.

Mrs Wright, a keen horsewoman who kept horses at Bockmer would often be seen ‘hacking out’ in Marlow Common and the Hambleden valley from her home in Lower Woodend.

Her hockey career in the area began at Maidenhead Hockey Club in 1983 where she scored a goal in her first match on a rainy Saturday afternoon Mr Wright said: “Carole did not look back from that day on.

"She rapidly became a major part of the hockey club scene and went on to captain several teams and also to be ladies club captain from 1995 to 1998.

“She continued to play for several years and also qualified as a hockey umpire at which she excelled.

“She was much in demand and often umpired three or four matches a day at the weekend.”

Mrs Wright also became the first lady president of the club in 2000 and served in the post until 2006.

She had also become a well known and popular figure in golfing circles by this time - joining Harleyford Golf Club in 1995 and being appointed ladies captain in 2003.

Mrs Wright, who was brought up in Wexham, represented the club on many occasions both in ladies’ and mixed.

Latterly she successfully skippered the Harleyford Ladies Scratch team and her name features frequently on the club’s honours boards.

Mrs Wright also represented the Bucks County Seniors Team on many occasions, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Bucks Ex Ladies Captains Association.

Last year she was successful in a National Pairs Competition, winning a trip to Acapulco.

A celebration of Mrs Wright’s life will be held at All Saints Church, The Causeway, on Tuesday April 20 from midday.

Mr Wright said: “All those that knew Carole are warmly invited and it was her express wish that there should be no flowers.

“Instead, donations should be made to support the Sue Ryder Hospice in Nettlebed where Carole spent her last two months.”

This can be done online using http://fundraising.suerydercare.org/CaroleWrightFund.

Alternatively send a cheque, payable to Sue Ryder Care, to Joyce Grove, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 5DE11.

Please also include a note stating “Carole Wright Fund”, your name and address and, if it is the case, that you are a UK taxpayer.