A FORMER Kendal High School girl has been elected president of one million worldwide members of the Mothers' Union.

Trish Heywood, who has been national president in Scotland for the last six years, celebrated her victory by flying to Prague - to "hassle" finance ministers about world debt.

"My knees knock when I think about the numbers of women I will be representing," Mrs Heywood told the Westmorland Gazette.

Apart from her ambassador's role in promoting the organisation which celebrates its 125th anniversary next year, she said there would be a lot of work protecting and highlighting women's and family issues.

The daughter of a James Cropper papermill worker, Mrs Heywood, 57, lived in Burneside until she started teacher training college in London.

Her late husband, physicist David Heywood was from Kendal and an old boy of Heversham Grammar School.

She first became involved with Mothers' Union on the Solway Firth, where the family lived before moving to Dunfermline in Fife.

During her time as Scottish president - leading the country's 1,000 members - she tried to "enthuse" women with the work of the organisation.

Three years ago, she visited Rwanda and saw first-hand the tragic repercussions of genocide, war-widowed women, orphans, and separated families.

Mrs Heywood explained Mothers' Union work was diverse and far-reaching.

It ranges from finding aid for Africa, to organising crches in prisons and to financing a support worker for women and children in one of Glasgow's most deprived areas.

Mother and grandmother of two sons and two grandsons, Mrs Heywood said the next three years in high office promised "plenty of excitement and hard work."

She hopes to travel to Africa, India and America, as well as South America, where the organisation is in its infancy.

Mrs Heywood replaces Lady Christine Eames as worldwide president.

Lady Eames visited the Kendal deanery in April.

"I hope I will be able to get down in the future.

In the meantime, give Kendal my love," said Mrs Heywood.