TRIBUTES have been paid to community champion Gill Elkins.

Gill, who was 67, was born in Clacton maternity home and attended Alton Park Junior School and Pathfields High School before leaving at 16 to begin her training as a nurse at Clacton Hospital.

She married her husband, Clive, when she was 19.

The couple had three children with Gill returning to healthcare afterwards and becoming a district nurse before the family moved back to Clacton in 1987.

Gill became a care assistant before going to work on the railways, rising through several positions before she retired.

Gill was devoted to her community and was a long-standing secretary of both the Jaywick Forum and Jaywick and Tudor Residents’ Association, as well as being on the board of Tendring Community Transport.

Gill was also secretary and vice-chairman of the Clacton Crime Prevention Panel, and it was crime reduction officer Calvin Heal who had nominated her when she was made an MBE by the Queen, for services to the community, in 2009.

Much of Gill’s work took place in the background in her various roles, quietly organising and co-ordinating activity to benefit others.

Outside of her community work Gill loved spending time with her family, and enjoying reading as well as knitting.

Gill’s family remember her as being determined and stubborn, traits which served her well in her community work, and much-loved, impossible to go out with her without being stopped by many people who knew her.

Her family said: “The whole family is so proud of her, especially when she got her MBE.

“Gill did what she did because she has a passion for Jaywick Sands and helping people.

“Gill had a heart of gold, the kettle was always on and if anyone had a problem they went to Gill and she would always help you. She didn’t judge you, or care who you were or where you were from, you were a person to her.”

Gill is survived by her husband, Clive, three children Jody, Hayley and Martin, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Gill’s funeral service takes place on August 18 at Weeley Crematorium. People are invited to make donations to the RNLI or St Helena Hospice in her memory, rather than sending flowers.