Tributes have been paid to a former Mayor of Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge who has died this week, aged 76.
Brenda Brown, who served as Mayor from 1994 to 1995, passed away after a short illness.
She was elected a town councillor in the Burnham North ward in 1987 and was then elected a Sedgemoor District Councillor for Burnham North in 1989.
Brenda served as a town councillor for eight years and a district councillor for four years.
During her term as Mayor a number of planned projects came to fruition including the move of the Town Council to Jaycroft Road, the refurbishment of The Princess, the completion of Highbridge Commnunity Centre, the Oxford Street car park and the go-ahead for the cemetry at Brent Road.
Her proudest achievement was the construction of the bandstand in Burnham’s Manor Gardens.
She also officiated over the opening of the new BARB building on The Esplanade following its construction as part of the BBC’s Challenge Anneka TV programme.
A cross-party resolution of commendation was passed by the Town Council on the successful completion of her Mayoral term.
Mrs Brown was born in Plymouth and moved to Burnham from Bristol with her husband Denis and daughter Catherine in 1976.
First trained as a fashion artist and dress designer, she was a past member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen who built up a very successful worldwide business designing and making dolls clothes from her home in Brambles Road.
Tributes have been paid to her this week by friends and colleagues.
Councillor Ken Smout, who is the current Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Brenda was a superb councillor and Mayor who left a very positive mark on our towns. She will be much missed and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”
And Burnham County Councillor Peter Burridge-Clayton added: “Whilst Brenda was a colleague of mine on the Council she was also somebody I would describe as a true friend. She was a kind caring person and was always there for me if I needed help. She was totally committed to our community and was a superb ambassador for our towns during her mayoral years.”
“My fondest memories of Brenda were all the times we would spend putting the world to rights at her home where she would be chatting whilst doing the craftwork which she loved so much. I feel very blessed to have had her in my life and I will miss her enormously. She was a true inspiration in many ways.”
