TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘warm and generous’ former mayoress and grandma who has sadly died.

Cecilia Ovenden, also known as Celia, died peacefully on August 1 at the age of 92. Her husband Leslie (Les), died in 2011 aged 86. They served as mayor and mayoress of Maldon from 1993 to 1995.

During their time, Cecilia and Les oversaw the re-signing of Maldon’s twinning agreement with the Dutch town Cujik to mark the twinning’s 25th anniversary.

She was also a governor of All Saints Primary School and a member of the Women’s Institute, serving as a town councillor before elected mayoress.

They had two children, Carole and Alan, plus two grandchildren and five great-children.

Alan paid tribute to his mother as a ‘warm and generous soul’.

He said: “Mum was a kind, caring and generous, she was always at ease with everyone she met.

“She was very much her own person, and never had any trouble making everyone around her laugh.

“As a governor, she used to love coming into school to hear the reception year pupils read. She was a wonderful human being, and a supportive and brilliant mum and grandma.”

Stephen Nunn, historian and town councillor for Maldon north, said: “Les and Celia were both very, very committed to the town and were very modest and approachable in their roles, as well as being highly supportive of residents and their fellow councillors."

Town councillor Stephen Savage said: “Cecilia lived in my ward, and through our time together on the council I found her very positive in the way that they educated me in becoming a councillor. They pulled my leg an awful lot, but it was always for the best."