Hull Bee Lady fundraiser Jean Bishop dies aged 99

Jean Bishop, known fondly as the Bee Lady, collected for charity for about 30 years

A pensioner who collected more than £125,000 for charity while dressed as a giant bee has died aged 99.

Jean Bishop, who became known as Hull's Bee Lady due to her stripy outfit, spent more than 30 years rattling her tin and urging people to donate.

In 2017, she received the freedom of the city and was awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours.

When asked, aged 95, whether she would retire, Mrs Bishop said: "There isn't such a word."

Comedian David Walliams, who presented her with the Pride of Britain fundraiser of the year award in 2013, described Mrs Bishop as a "true national treasure".

Born in Louth in Lincolnshire, Mrs Bishop moved to East Yorkshire at a young age and made the city of Hull her home.

The unique outfit which made her a well-known and loved figure came about by accident after the retiree borrowed a bee costume from AgeUK to try and make an impact as she collected money.

Realising that her distinctive dress had helped, she later had a bespoke version made by her daughter from three hula hoops and some charity shop fabric.

Speaking in 2017 about her work, she said: "I didn't want to put the costume on at first, but when I did it went down like a bomb."

In the same year, she was recognised by the Queen for her dedication to helping others less fortunate than herself.

As she received her medal, the monarch asked Mrs Bishop why she wasn't wearing her trademark outfit.

She replied she would, but it would have meant she "would have had to have paid for two seats on the train".

Tributes to Hull's "great ambassador"

A bee suit-clad David Walliams presented Jean Bishop with a Pride of Britain award in 2013

From sports clubs to politicians - all have been paying tribute to the legendary fundraiser.

Hull's two rugby clubs led tributes, Hull KR describing her as "a great ambassador for the city and an inspiration to all" while city rivals Hull FC tweeted: "With her generosity and spirit, Hull's iconic 'Bee Lady' leaves behind an incredible legacy, and acts as an inspiration to everyone across the city."

They were joined by Hull City football club who described Mrs Bishop as "an inspirational and remarkable woman whose contribution to the city will never be forgotten."

Local politicians have also paid their respects, Hull East MP Karl Turner described her as a "legend" and his colleague in Hull West Emma Hardy said she was "a source of inspiration and such a hero to many".

The leader of Hull City Council Daren Hale described Mrs Bishop as a "a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration to us all" while the city's Lord Mayor, Lynn Petrini, said she was "truly saddened" by Mrs Bishop's death.

She added: "Jean and her incredible contributions to this city have inspired many generations of our residents and she will be greatly missed by the people of Hull."

In 2018 Mrs Bishop opened a care centre named after her in Hull

Pam Morgan-Davies, of Age UK Hull, said Mrs Bishop was a "complete one-off".

"She was groundbreaking, both in the way that she fundraised and how she made people of all ages feel comfortable," she said.

"The number of people who remember putting money in her tin when they were little, then they would come up with their kids or their grandkids and say, 'I used to give you money when I was little' - she loved that."

In 2018, she opened the Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre, which provides out-of-hospital care for older people in Hull.

The centre, which opened during the week the NHS celebrated its 70th birthday, was named after her to recognise the impact she had made in her home city.

She was only the second woman to be granted the freedom of Hull, following anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman in 1987, and was also celebrated in board game form.

In the Hull version of Monopoly, Mrs Bishop is recognised on a community chest card, a nod to her charity work.