A SPECIAL celebration of life service paying tribute to a well-respected former Christchurch Mayor will take place next month.

June Payne, 90, who was Mayor of Christchurch in 1993/1994, sadly died in France on New Year’s Day.

She had been living with her son Julian Payne in the country for the past three years.

Her daughter Dawn Brookes, the chair of the Mudeford Wood Community Trust, said anyone who knew her mother was welcome to attend

“It’s really lovely to know that one of her friends, a teacher from Tatabánya, will be flying in for the service”, she said.

“She always felt very fondly towards them as she was there when the twinning agreement was signed back in 1993, when she was Mayor.

“That was the start of a very strong friendship with the town.

“She did such a lot to support them.”

Dawn added: “She was always helping others and volunteering is in my blood because of her.

“She was integral in getting Mudeford Wood Community Centre sorted when it was handed over from the council. We couldn’t have done it without her advice.”

Mrs Payne was also a big supporter of the military and visited Northern Ireland when she was Mayor in 1993 for a morale boosting visit to meet local troops.

During her visit she came under a hail of rocks and stones as the armoured vehicle in which she was travelling was targeted as it passed the headquarters of Sinn Fein.

Mrs Payne served on the council from 1985 until 1999 as the councillor for Twynham ward.

She served as a member of boundaries, environment & leisure, planning, leisure, policy & resources, technical services, unitary status, and works committees.

She was the fourth member of her family to hold the office of mayor and was the borough’s second independent mayor in a row.

During the time she was mayor, Christchurch was fighting to retain its independence under local government reorganisation.

People attending the special service are asked to wear bright colours, not black, as Mrs Payne loved spring colours.

The service will be held on April 20 at 2pm at All Saints Church in Mudeford.

There will be readings from family and the Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Nick Geary, it is hoped.

Mrs Payne had two children, Dawn and Julian, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.