Last updated 15:57, Wednesday, 16 April 2008

GEORGINA Ayling has been appointed to the Whitehaven Rugby League Club board of directors following a shareholders meeting last week.

She is the interim head of finance and business development for Copeland Council, who recently agreed to underwrite the £75,000 West Cumbria Development Fund loan which saved Whitehaven RLFC from the threat of administration.

Georgina will specifically represent the borough council’s interests, but she is not the club’s first woman director as many first thought.

That distinction belongs to Betty Haile, from Cleator Moor, who was appointed in the early 70s and gave sterling service for several years.

Betty continues to take an interest in Haven affairs and still holds the shares transferred to her from her uncle, Lennie Lowes, who was one of the club’s founder directors.