A FORMER Kidderminster mayoress died aged 70 on Christmas Day after losing her battle with cancer.

Pamela Winifred Talbot, whose maiden name was Leith, was mayoress between 1965 and 1966.

She was born in Birmingham in 1935 and moved with her parents to Upper Arley in 1942. She was a pupil at Arley Village School, Arley Castle and Holy Trinity Convent in Kidderminster.

Mrs Talbot graduated from Birmingham Technical College after studying domestic science and nutrition and was created an Associate of the Royal Society of Health by the Electrical Association of Women.

In 1954, she won the silver medal of the London City and Guilds for housecraft and later became a household adviser and demonstrator for the Worcester branch of the Midlands Electricity Board, introducing electrical appliances available for the first time in the Worcester and Malvern areas.

In 1957 she married solicitor Charles Talbot, with whom she had three children, and she played a leading role in the establishment of Kidderminster Youth Centre during Mr Talbot's mayoral year.

Mr and Mrs Talbot were later divorced.

She also did voluntary work for the RSPCA and the RSPB and in 1985 moved to Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire where she became an active member of the community and was elected a county councillor.

Her funeral was held at St Issell's Church, Saundersfoot, last Friday.