ONE of Tavistock's most respected citizens and an honoured burgess of the town has died, aged 62.

Gill Gorbutt, a former councillor and mayor of Tavistock in 1997-1998, had fought a long battle against breast cancer. She died in Derriford Hospital on Monday — her children Tom and Emma were by her side.

Mrs Gorbutt was a prominent and very active member of the town's community. She had been involved in many organisations, both in Tavistock and further afield.

A long-standing member of the Labour Party, she was a liaison officer for the environmental charity Westden, and ultimately the chairman of its trustees.

Mrs Gorbutt was also chairman of Tamwed, an organisation set up to support people affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, chair of the Working Together for Devon organisation and a chair of Tavistock Farmers' Market Association.

She was made an honoured burgess of Tavistock in April 2007.

She cared for her husband David for several years after he was diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's Disease — she helped establish and was a passionate supporter of Tavistock Memory Café.

Mrs Gorbutt was a founder member and trustee of Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS).

Andy Lyle, general manager of TASS, described her as 'an absolute inspiration'.

Cllr Ted Sherrell, Tavistock's longest serving councillor who served with Mrs Gorbutt in the 1990s, said he was deeply saddened by her death.

Cllr Sherrell said: 'Gill represented all that is good in our town and community.

'As a councillor, she was a lady of principle with an unswerving respect for, and loyalty to, the democratic process.

'As a mayor, she was a dignified, dedicated and very popular ambassador for the town.

'In all that she did, in all aspects of her community service, she was a lady of integrity and immense courage.'

Vice-chairman of Tavistock Farmers' Market Association Jeremy Rickeard said Gill's contribution to the market was 'immeasurable': 'She was always very positive and encouraging, even when unwell, and without the enormous contribution she made, the market would not be the vibrant, thriving success it is today.

'We will miss her very much and our hearts go out to her family.'

The arrangements for Mrs Gorbutt's funeral have yet to be confirmed.