A COUNCILLOR who dedicated her life to the town of Bridgwater has sadly died.

Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has paid tribute to local government stalwart Ann Bown, who passed away after a long illness at the age of 74.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said Cllr Bown's record of local service will be remembered by the Bridgwater community for many years.

After attending St Margaret’s School, in Bridgwater, Miss Bown worked firstly in a local hotel then in a civilian post at Bridgwater Police Station.

A stint at the Conservative Association office ensued before she moved to work for the NSPCC.

She also volunteered for many years at Bridgwater Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Miss Bown, a Bridgwater charter trustee and a long-time judge at Bridgwater carnival, became a parish councillor in Wembdon before being elected as a Sedgemoor district councillor (she later became chairman) and subsequently a Somerset county councillor.

In total she spent 33 years as an elected representative - an outstanding achievement, Mr Liddell-Grainger said.

“Ann lived and breathed Bridgwater and it was her devotion to the town and her determination to improve and enhance it that led her to devote such an extraordinarily large part of her life to local politics,” he said.

“Very few communities are fortunate enough to have someone of Ann’s calibre in their midst, or to have someone with her drive, dedication and enthusiasm speaking up for them.

“Ann’s death is a great blow for the Bridgwater community, but her outstanding record of service to local institutions and organisations will long be remembered.

“Our very sincerest sympathies go to her husband Steve at this particularly difficult time.”