FORMER Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge, Brenda Brown, has died at the age of 77.

Mrs Brown passed away at her home in Brambles Road, Burnham, after a short illness.

She served on Burnham and Highbridge Town Council for eight years, having been elected for the Burnham North ward in 1987.

She was also elected for the same ward on the district council following a by-election in 1989, and served with the authority for six years.

Mrs Brown's term as Mayor, from 1994 to 1995, included several notable landmarks, including the town council's move to Jaycroft Road, the refurbishment of the Princess Hall, the completion of the Highbridge Community Hall, and the Oxford Street car park in Burnham, and the co-ahead for a cemetery in Brent Road.

According to Mrs Brown's husband Dennis: “Her proudest achievement was the construction of the bandstand in Manor Gardens.”

She also officiated at the opening of the new BARB building following its construction as part of the Challenge Anneka TV programme.

A cross-party resolution of commendation was passed by the town council on the successful completion of her mayoral term.

Mrs Brown was born in Portsmouth and moved to Burnham from Bristol with Denis and their daughter Catherine in 1976.

First trained as a fashion artist and dress designer, Mrs Brown, who was a past member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, built up a very successful world-wide business designing and making dolls clothes from her home in Brambles Road.