DAME Fanny Waterman has agreed to take on the role of president of Harrogate International Festivals.

She is the legendary founder of Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and the woman once described by Prince Charles “as doing more for music in Britain than anyone else”.

Dame Fanny has supported Harrogate International Festivals for many years. She said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to be the president of such a great international music festival.

“In keeping with the title, we are looking forward to spreading our wings further than ever to attract worldclass international musicians to Harrogate and returning to the glory of Barbirolli’s days at the festival.”

The event has grown substantially since its inception in 1966 and attracts more than 90,000 people to a range of attractions, including the world’s largest crime fiction event – Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival – and a wide variety of arts education activities, which over the past two years have involved more than 6,000 young people.

Dame Fanny, who has been described as “Queen of Keyboard”, will take an active role in planning the summer music festival.

Plans are already in hand for a special weekend featuring her favourite performers when she celebrates her 90th birthday next year.