One one of the doughtiest ladies to serve on Bourne Town Council and become the town mayor was Mrs Norma Woolley, a charming lady who impressed many with her courage in the face of serious illness.

She fought cancer for several years, contracted during her mayoral term from 2002-03 when she was 67, but decided to complete her year of office despite the seriousness of her condition. “I still want to carry on and attend meetings even if it does mean having to use a wheelchair”, she told colleagues and remained as a councillor until standing down in April 2007.

Mrs Woolley died later that year, on Monday 27th November, aged 73, having made her mark during nine years as a councillor and a stalwart worker for many local organisations including the Twinning Association, the Conservative Party, the Royal British Legion and the Bourne Players.

She left a husband, Bill, three daughters, Norma, Pamela and Barbara, and a son, David. Fellow councillors observed a minute's silence in her memory when they met the following evening.

Fellow councillor Judy Smith paid a moving tribute when she said: "Despite her illness she never complained and encouraged other people to look forward and not be downcast. She always carried out her duties with charm and dignity."

The funeral was held at Peterborough crematorium on Thursday 13th December 2007.