A FORMER mayor of Droitwich who devoted her life to helping others in her town has died after a determined battle against cancer.

Maureen Lawley died aged 79 at her home in Fernhill Heath, near Worcester on Thursday (June 29) after fighting stomach cancer.

Mrs Lawley twice became mayor of Droitwich in 2001 and 2009 and was married to the late Don Lawley who was mayor himself four times as well as leader and chairman of Wychavon District Council. He was made a Freeman of Droitwich in 2008. Together they were described as a formidable and dynamic couple.

Her son Mark paid tribute to her and said he hoped people would join the family to bid her a fond farewell at her funeral at St Nicholas' Church, Ombersley Street, Droitwich at noon on Saturday, July 15.

Mark, a haulage manager, said his mother followed his father into politics, serving for more than 20 years for both Wychavon District Council and Droitwich Town Council. He said it was an unusual to find a husband and wife who had both been mayor.

Born in Birmingham in December 9, 1937, Mrs Lawley supported her husband during a strong, 50-year marriage. Both were involved in successful business ventures in catering, safety equipment, running hire shops and textiles, both having a shared drive and business acumen.

Indeed, the success of the business allowed Mr Lawley to retire at 45 and for the couple to devote more of their life to the serving the community.

Both Mr and Mrs Lawley were passionate supporters of St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, a charity which Mr Lawley helped to found. Mrs Lawley, like her husband, made St Richard’s her chosen charity during her time as mayor.

The couple were always pleased to see the charity flourish and between them Mark estimates they must have raised thousands for the charity.

He said: “She was proud of what she could do for the community. My mum and dad were a team. They were always together. They each inspired the other.

"She was very much a people person, very kind, very considerate, very thorough in what she did. She always saw things through and God help you if you were in her way."

Both Mr and Mrs Lawley were always dressed and presented immaculately, something Mrs Lawley prided herself on even towards the very end of her life. She only stepped down from politics in May after the family received the devastating news of her illness in November Mark said: “They gave her three months to live but she managed seven. She was a fighter.”

She enjoyed visiting her son in Abberley or a trip to the Manor Arms Inn where her drink of choice was a cappuccino. She died in the arms of her ‘absolutely brilliant’ carer Katija Jones who had looked after her five days a week for six months.

Her husband Don died in 2011.

Richard Morris, a former mayor of Droitwich, said one of his abiding memories of Maureen was of her waving at the crowds as they followed the Olympic torch through Fernhill Heath as she wore a Union Jack dress.

He said: "She contributed so much with her husband Don. Between them they were completely devoted to Droitwich. They supported each other so much they were almost like one. It is the end of a force of politics in Droitwich.

"The Don and Maureen partnership has been in Droitwich for a very long time. I will miss her."

Mrs Lawley is survived by son Mark, grandchildren Grace, 23, and Hope, 21 and Mark's partner, Jayne Caswell.