A FORMER Atherton first lady, Mrs Lucy Williams, has died at the age of 93.

Wife of the late Cllr William Williams she was Chairman's Lady of Atherton Urban District Council in 1966-67.

Born and brought up in Defiance Street, Lucy's cortege will pass the end of the street for the last time on its way to the funeral service on Friday as a mark of respect.

Lucy was well-known throughout the town and during her term of office arranged many fund raising events for good causes, including Hesketh Fletcher High School.

Lucy spent all her working life in the cotton mill, her last shift at the Howe Bridge No2 Mill.

Before her official year she organised and ran domino drives at home or in St George's School to gather in funds for St George's Church, where husband, Billy, who died in 1970, was a church warden for many years.

Just after the Second World War the couple supervised weekly social evenings and dances in the school.

Lucy, who died in the Chanters Nursing Home, is survived by one daughter, Marilyn, one grand daughter and one great grand daughter.

A funeral service was at St George's on Friday followed by interment at Atherton Cemetery.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.