TRIBUTES have been paid to the former Mayor of Basingstoke, Marilyn Tucker, who has passed away aged 84.

Marilyn represented the Pamber and Silchester ward on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and was first elected to the council in 1976 before serving as Mayor of the borough from 2000 to 2001.

During her time at the council, she was chair of the Human Resources Committee and vice-chair of the Development Control Committee and Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as well as serving on a number of other committees.

READ MORE: Two arrested and drugs found in Basingstoke police raid

Her colleagues have described her as hardworking, committed and a great friend to many.

Marilyn was born in St Albans in 1939 and enjoyed games, gym and art at school. After a brief spell of further education in Switzerland she attended secretarial college and worked for tyre company Pirelli.

In 1962, Marilyn travelled to Australia and America, working for large companies before returning to England in 1966 to work for Esso.

Marilyn married Fred in 1971 and they welcomed their daughter Sarah in 1980. As Marilyn was a serving councillor at this point, she often brought her baby along to council meetings and Sarah was the first baby in the borough to be bottle-fed during a meeting.

The family lived in Silchester for many years where they reared game and bred Belted Galloway cattle, Shetland ponies & American Morgan horses. They also rescued dogs, particularly German Shepherds.

Fred passed away in 1996, but Marilyn continued to be committed to serving the borough until standing down from the council at the 2019 elections.

Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr David Leeks said: “I know that, like me, many people will be saddened to hear of Marilyn’s death.

"She was a committed public servant, representing the people of her ward unstintingly and with great integrity. She was a great friend and a wonderful councillor.

"Marilyn was also the county councillor for Tadley for a number of years and was instrumental in creating a youth facility in the town. She held regular surgeries and was a keen advocate of fostering.

“Her part in the campaign to help those without mains drainage led to her being affectionately known as the ‘Cesspit Queen’, a title that she was both amused by and honoured to hold.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this very sad time."