FRIENDS and family paid tribute this week to former Darlington Mayor Rita Fishwick, who died between Christmas and New Year.

Mrs Fishwick, 60, had combined council and charity service while working full time for William Press.

She was born in Quetta, Pakistan, where her father, a regimental sergeant major, was stationed with the Army and lived the first seven years of her life abroad. Her parents then returned to Britain and various posts throughout the country.

She joined the Army herself at 17, serving in the clerical and administration section of the Women's Royal Army Corps. She met her husband Donald who was a corporal on the same camp and they married in 1961. They moved to Darlington two years later when Cpl Fishwick was posted to Catterick.

Mrs Fishwick was elected to the council in May 1976 and served the Harrowgate Hill ward for 19 years, before being unseated in 1995. She was mayor came in 1991-2. She served on many committees including works and health, of which she was chairman for several years.

Current mayor Doris Jones said: "We were very close friends for many years. She was such a genuine and cheerful person and always had the interests of the people at heart.

Mrs Fishwick maintained her link with the armed forces through 33 years of voluntary work with the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and 27 years with the Darlington division of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families' Association.

Darlington SSAFA divisional secretary Gordon Williams said: "She was one of God's good people."

She leaves her husband, son Michael, daughter Sarah and grand-daughter Kayleigh. A requiem mass was held on Tuesday at St Augustine's Church.