TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Harwich mayor.

Doreen Rutson was the town’s mayor from 1984 until 1985.

She died peacefully at Silversprings Care Home in Thorrington on Tuesday aged 97.

Doreen’s son David, who is another ex-mayor serving Harwich between 2008 and 2009, could not be at his mother’s bedside due to Covid.

He said: “I got a call from the care home requesting my presence as they felt she was going.

“Sadly, I couldn’t go as I tested positive for Covid.

“Fortunately my daughter went for the last six hours.

“Mum would have been 98 in two months.”

David, 78, of Highfield Avenue, Dovercourt, spoke fondly of his mother as he recalled her influence in the town.

In her role as mayor, Mrs Rutson was responsible for bringing many new services to the town.

David added: “She was well known as a councillor for Harwich town and eventually Tendring Council.

“She ran a group called the Dovercourt Variety and Drama Association and put on shows at different venues including the former Cliff Pavilion.

“That led to the council acquiring land that belonged to the war department and turning it into the community centre.

“She ran the community centre for more than a decade with my father.”

Mrs Rutson was also the former president of the Inner Wheel Club of Harwich and Dovercourt through which she ran the Society for the Blind in Harwich.

David said seeing his mother as mayor inspired him to get into politics.

He said: “Her work is definitely what got me into politics. To be honest I didn’t like politics on a district or county level at first.

“However, when I witnessed what the two big parties were all about, I couldn’t get to grips with their ideas.

“I believe the purpose of politics is helping the people in your community and not toeing the line for a particular party.

“That’s what my mother believed in and that is why she was so great.”

David also reflected on the role Mrs Rutson played as a grandmother. He added: “It was a pleasure the way the family bonded with her, even people she didn’t really know.

“She’s only been at Silversprings since February and my daughter said she’d never seen so many carers crying.”