The funeral will take place on Monday of Mary Andrews, a former Thurrock councillor and tireless worker for the community.

Mrs Andrews of Lenmore Avenue, Grays, died peacefully at Basildon Hospital on Friday after a spell of ill health. She was 82.

She was born in London but settled in Grays after her marriage.

Her husband, Fred, was a long-serving councillor and Mary joined him on the council, first representing Grays Town and then Little Thurrock.

She was an active member of Grays Conservative Association and served as secretary and as parliamentary agent.

Outside politics she was a trustee of the Holiday Homes For The Handicapped charity and worked at its shop in Southend Road, Grays, until ill health forced her to give it up. She also served for many years as a school governor.

She leaves three daughters, Jean, Sue and Valerie, and a grandson, Steven. Dennis Dimond, a former leader of the Conservative group on Thurrock

Council, said: "Her former council colleagues will remember Mary with great affection as a quiet-voiced but very determined lady who earned the respect of all who knew her.

"Her family are justly proud that their parents' name and service is commemorated in the Frederick Andrews Court OAP complex in Little Thurrock."

The funeral on Monday will be at Corbets Tey Crematorium starting at 3.30pm.

Published Thursday November 29, 2001