A BLACK Country great grandmother who campaigned tirelessly for recognition for the veterans of the Arctic Convoys has died at the age of 89.

Following the death of her husband Mick in 2010, Phyllis Coyle used her savings to have an official UK memorial created for Britain’s Arctic convoys veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Former Stourbridge Royal Naval Association president Mick, who survived the Convoys, had made it his mission to campaign for greater recognition for the thousands of sailors who braved perilous seas, freezing temperatures and German U-boats to deliver vital supplies to Russia during WWII in what Winston Churchill described as the "worst journey in the world".

And after his death - devoted wife Phyllis took up the baton and, together with her daughter Jennifer Pickin, helped to fund a permanent memorial for Mick and his brave comrades which was unveiled in August 2012.

She was also a driving force behind calls to the British Government to honour Convoys' veterans for their service with a new campaign medal which she proudly received on behalf of Mick in October 2013.

Plucky Mrs Coyle was also determined Mick would be posthumously honoured with a final Russian medal which Russia announced was to be bestowed on the Arctic sailors but which she thought she may never receive after the UK Foreign Office said surviving old sailors and widows of ex-shipmates could not accept it if they had received or were expecting a UK award for the same services.

Mrs Coyle did eventually, however, receive the medal after Labour MP Ian Austin intervened and collected the award himself from the Russian Embassy in London and delivered it to the pensioner's home in Pensnett, where she lived until just a few weeks ago.

Her final weeks were spent in a Wordsley residential home and she passed away at Russell's Hall Hospital on January 27.

As well as helping to campaign for greater recognition for heroes of the Convoys - Mrs Coyle, with husband Mick, also pulled in thousands of pounds for needy causes through annual New Year dances at Brierley Hill Civic Hall.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin described her as "a wonderful lady who contributed a huge amount to our community".

He told the News: "She fought so hard to get proper recognition for the brave men, like her beloved husband Mick, who served on the Arctic Convoys, just as she supported all local veterans.

"I will always remember traveling to Alrewas with her for the unveiling of the monument to the Convoy veterans that she organised.

"She and Mick did so much for Dudley and her death came as a real shock. I feel privileged to have known her and will never forget how kind she was to me.”

Mrs Coyle’s grandson Olly Pickin said: “She was a determined lady who fought long and hard for the recognition of her husband and his shipmates on the Russian Convoys.

"Her greatest joy was to see the memorial at Alrewas which with the family she visited regularly and to wear with pride the medals she had helped him fight for.

“The last few years she was unable to take part in the ceremony at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day due to ill health but would always insist on laying her wreath after the event.”

As well as daughter Jennifer - Mrs Coyle leaves a grandson Olly Pickin, and great-granddaughter Nancy, aged eight.

Olly added: “She loved her little family and they all meant the world to her.”

Her funeral will be held at 11am on February 21 at St Mary's Church, Brierley Hill, followed by internment at Gornal Crematorium at 12.45pm and a wake at The Copthorne Hotel.

All are welcome to all or part of the funeral.

Flowers are welcome or donations, which will be accepted through J Freeman and Sons in Netherton.

Donations will be split between SSAFA and the National Memorial Arboretum.