‘CARING and community minded’ was how a former Tavistock Town Councillor was described following the sad news of her untimely death last week.

Tavistock Town Council paid tribute to Sue Bailey who joined the council in 2009 and served the town for seven years. She was town mayor for the civic year of 2015/16. She also served on West Devon Borough Council.

Current town mayor Cllr Mandy Ewings said: ‘Sue Bailey was an active town and borough councillor, most recently serving as mayor to the town council before leaving office due to deteriorating health earlier this year.

‘She was a community-minded and caring person, who always took time to help others. Despite her ill health, which she kept private, she worked hard throughout her mayoral year to support many and varied projects for the town.

‘As her deputy it was a pleasure to work with her and I know she will be missed throughout the town. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.’

Leader of West Devon Borough Council Cllr Philip Sanders said: ‘We were sad to learn of the premature death of Sue who, although only a member of the borough council for one term of four years, worked hard during that period on behalf of the people she represented. Both during this period and afterwards she also contributed to the area through her work as a Tavistock Town Councillor and latterly as its mayor and in so doing, helped to maintain and increase the spirit of working together between the town and borough council. She will be greatly missed by all her colleagues.’

A tribute will be paid to Ms Bailey at the Tavistock Town Council civic service this Sunday.