TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayoress of Burnham, Margot Jones, who has died at the age of 84.

The wife of Burnham district and town councillor Neville Jones passed away last week after suffering from a brain tumour.

The couple had moved to Burnham in 1972 after meeting in 1948 on a blind date following a story that Cllr Jones, had written when he was working as a journalist.

Speaking about his wife of 65 years, the four-times mayor of Burnham and Highbridge said: “She had a dynamic influence on me.

Whatever I’ve achieved in my life she’s absolutely been the driving influence, both during my time as mayor, before that and after.”

Over the years she was heavily involved in fundraising for local charities and organisations in and around Burnham and Highbridge and will leave a lasting legacy on the town, according to her husband.

Cllr Jones continued: “She was one of the original founders of BARB. She was there when we didn’t have much money but we had inspiration.

“She worked ever so hard to help us get the funds for that first boat and was there when it was christened. “It was Margot’s idea to launch an appeal to find three or four outstanding people and that’s how the civic awards were formed.”

The couple moved to Burnham in 1972 after meeting on a blind date arranged as a thank you for a newspaper article Cllr Jones had penned.

Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge, Cllr Martin Cox, said: “I will always have fond memories of Margot.

“A devoted wife to her husband, Neville, she had a ready smile for everyone and always looked glamorous, even in her most recent years.

“She was the perfect hostess for the many dinner parties at their seafront apartment.

“Margot was the rock behind Neville’s busy life, dealing with his varied council responsibilities and her encyclopaedic knowledge of people and places also helped in this regard.”

If anyone would like to make a donation in the memory of Margot Jones, her wishes were for funds to be donated to BARB, the Weston Hospice or St Andrew’s Church in Burnham.