TWICE Mayor of Huntingdon, Mrs Cecilia Lawrence has died aged 83. The former Conservative Councillor, who lived in Norfolk Road, Huntingdon, was a founder member of Huntingdon Twinning Association and worked, with her husband, Leonard on running the WRVS

TWICE Mayor of Huntingdon, Mrs Cecilia Lawrence has died aged 83.

The former Conservative Councillor, who lived in Norfolk Road, Huntingdon, was a founder member of Huntingdon Twinning Association and worked, with her husband, Leonard on running the WRVS Meals on Wheels service from its base in Ambury Road, Huntingdon. She was also a hard-working charity fundraiser, particularly for the scanner appeal for Hinchingbrooke Hospital. She continued her duties as mayor in 1995, even though that year she suffered a stroke.

A Londoner, Mrs Lawrence moved to Huntingdonshire with her family when the paper and board manufacturer, Samuel Jones moved from London to St Neots in the 1970s. Her son, Graham, worked for the company.

Mrs Lawrence had three sons, Alan, Graham and Lenny. Her husband died in 1994. She had been admitted to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in November for a knee replacement and a cataract operation. Her son, Alan said his mother had developed an infection in the hospital and died in her sleep early yesterday morning. Councillor Lawrence was Mayor of Huntingdon in 1984 and 1995.

Former Councillor Jon Shapland, who was Mayor of Huntingdon in 1992, said Mrs Lawrence was a very good friend.

"She was an excellent mayor and an excellent councillor. She was a very good friend of mine for many years and she helped me settle in as a novice councillor, when I was first elected in the late 80s, and then as mayor. She was a kind person, very considerate and a member of several committees, which she worked very hard for."

Malcolm Lyons, chairman of Huntingdon Twinning Association, said: "As the founder of a splendid organisation which draws together the cultural links of countries across Europe, Mrs Lawrence had my admiration and we are very sad to hear of her loss.