Pershore remembers Betty

Buy photos » A thanksgiving service to celebrate the life of Betty Hughes MBE was held at Pershore Abbey on Tuesday (June 12). Picture by Alex Bradbury. 2011027ABR.

FRIENDS and family said their final goodbyes to Pershore's first ever woman mayor at a special thanksgiving service.

About 200 people packed into Pershore Abbey on Tuesday (June 12) to remember Betty Hughes MBE who died last month at the age of 89.

Members of the Pershore Division of St John Ambulance formed a guard of honour to remember Betty, who was president of the organisation, and there were heartfelt readings from divisional superintendent Tony Haines, her son Tom, and town mayor Charles Tucker.

Mr Tucker, who was friends with her for more than 30 years, said Betty was one of those special people who changed the place where they lived for the better.

"Her influence and caring support for people both young and old is reflected throughout the community of Pershore and villages around. She had a smile and friendship for everyone she met," he said.

"Betty will be hugely missed for her boundless energy and enthusiasm for the causes she embraced, for her generosity of spirit and for her warmth and goodwill to all the people she met and involved in these causes.

"Pershore has lost a great champion for our town but her memorial is all around us in the things she left better as a result of her work to bring unity in the community."

Betty stood down from Pershore Town Council after 28 years, including a two year stint as mayor, last May. She was the first ever woman to become Pershore Mayor when she took on the role in 1991 and said it caused quite a stir in the town when she spoke to the Observer last year following her retirement.

Outside of her council work and involvement with St John Ambulance Mrs Hughes was a key part of a number of other organisations including Worcestershire M.E. Support Group, where she was honorary president, a life member of the Friends of Pershore Abbey, president of the Avonvale Organ Club and associate member of Cherry Orchard First School governors association. She was also involved with the Friends of St Marys Church in Wick, Friends of Pershore Baptist Church and Friends of Pershore Hospital.

She was awarded an MBE in 1999.

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