Being president of the Mothers' Union just means keeping it in the family for Cumbria's newest leader.

Deb Lee, of St Bee's Priory, spent her early years in Uganda with her missionary parents. Her mother because Mothers; Union president for the country.

"I am sure she is spinning in her grave. I was always a mischievous child and she would not have believed that I would reach this position."

Not only has she been elected president of Cumbria's 12,000 members but she has a definite vision of what the Mothers' Union is and where it is going.

A consultant paediatrician at the West Cumberland Hospital, Dev, 70, has retired from her clinical work but remains involved in health care through her membership of the North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group's Governing Body.

Following retirement from her clinical role as a consultant paediatrician, Dr Deb Lee then filled the role of north Cumbria’s designated doctor for reviewing all child deaths.

She came to Cumbria and her job in 1999 although her husband, the Rev Richard Hall, was finishing in the RAF. He is now rural dean of Calder.

Deb said the work of the Mothers' Union today is as essential as it ever was - working on issues such as domestic violences and other issues crucial to communities.

Her aim, during her tenure, is to promote the community work that already exists as well as working with other charities, organisations and government bodies to tackle issues that threaten families.

"In Cumbria we already work to support local charities and individuals."

She said the one benefit of the pandemic was that more and more people started using devices like Zoom.

"We have four million members in 84 counties .It is so much easier to get together."

During her presidency, Deb will be raising money and support for the Bishop;'s Har est Appeal and for the Democratic Republic of Congo -helping women into agriculture..