TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a former Bournemouth mayor who died suddenly at her Westbourne home on Tuesday (June 1).

Jeanne Curtis, 85, devoted more than a quarter of a century to serving the town and was made an honorary alderman after standing down as councillor for the East Cliff ward in 1999.

Born on March 13, 1925, into a local family (her grandfather Henry Noyce laid many of the resort’s Victorian drains), and educated at Alma Road Girls’ School and Pitman’s Business College, Jeanne worked in the Civil Service.

Later she became a marketing consultant for a multi-national company and a lecturer on man-made fibres.

The mother-of-two became a Bournemouth councillor in 1973 and a Dorset County Councillor in 1977. She described becoming mayor as “the most wonderful day of my life”.

A warden assisted block of flats in Knowle Road was named in her honour. A road on the Townsend estate had already been named in memory of her father, Charles Henry Noyce, who died in Singapore at the age of 38. Jeanne donated a Book of Remembrance to the borough in his honour.

Her husband Fred, 86, told the Daily Echo: “Jeanne was a fantastic wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She had a wonderful personality and could mix with everyone.

“Jeanne used to travel all over the world with me; I specialised in carpeting luxury cruise liners and she often accompanied me on business trips. Everyone loved her.”

Politicians from all parties joined to pay tribute to Mrs Curtis when she was made an honorary alderman. Cllr Bob Chapman described her as “a lady of the people”, recalling how she always made a point of saying thank-you to anyone who retired whether they were driving a bus or carrying out engineering works on the highway.

Mr Curtis, who was his wife’s full-time carer, said: “Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised but it was Jeanne’s last wish that there should be a civic funeral at St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth followed by a private cremation at Bournemouth cemetery.”