FLAGS flew at half-mast over Bury Town Hall this week following the death of Bury's first lady mayor.

Mrs Christina Ormrod (82), who had represented Pilkington Park in Whitefield for more than two decades, died peacefully on Saturday (May 29) after a long illness.

The Conservative councillor was first elected in 1969 as a member of the former Whitefield Urban District Council, and she held her seat on the new Bury metropolitan council until 1995. She became the Mayor of Bury in 1984/85, the first woman to hold the post.

During her time on the council, Mrs Ormrod was chairman of the social services committee, and also served on the education committee for many years.

She helped form Hillock over-60s Club and was member of numerous societies: Society for the Welfare of the Deaf, Whitefield Old People's Welfare Committee, North Regional Association for the Blind, and Bury Health Authority Family Practitioner Committee. She also served as a governor at Philips High, Unsworth/Castlebrook High and Whitefield CP School, and was on the board at Bury Grammar and St Bernadette's and Ripon Avenue special schools. Mrs Ormrod used to live in Kenmore Drive, Whitefield but has recently been living in Spurr House elderly persons home.

She is survived by her husband Jack, daughter Jacqueline and son-in-law Tony, grandchildren Tina and John, and great-grand-daughter Katie.

Coun Roy Walker, leader of the Conservative group on Bury Council, said: "Christina Ormrod was a lady for whom I had great respect over the 13 years we shared on the council. She was a hard-working councillor in Whitefield for 22 years, an enthusiastic mayor of the borough, and a loyal supporter of education and social services.

"Her involvement in social care was not theoretical. While her attendance at meetings was impressive, it was the practical help she gave to clubs and individuals on a sustained, unpublicised basis over many years which will be my particular memory of her."

A funeral mass will take place on Wednesday (June 9) at St Bernadette's RC Church in Whitefield at 9.30am, followed by interment at Agecroft cemetery at 11am.