FORMER mayor and councillor Edith Bradley, who served the borough for 27 years, has died at the age of 88. Mrs Bradley was elected to represent Goresbrook ward in 1971, the same year as her good friend, current mayor Charles Fairbrass. She remained a cou

FORMER mayor and councillor Edith Bradley, who served the borough for 27 years, has died at the age of 88.

Mrs Bradley was elected to represent Goresbrook ward in 1971, the same year as her good friend, current mayor Charles Fairbrass.

She remained a councillor until 1986, when she took an eight-year break from politics. Mrs Bradley rejoined the council in 1994, representing Becontree ward until May 2006.

She passed away on June 20, leaving behind her three daughters and grandchildren.

Mrs Bradley was described as a "good, kind lady who loved children" by Cllr Fairbrass at the Assembly meeting last week.

He said: "Edie Bradley became a councillor the same year as myself, 1971. I knew Edie for the best part of 50 years. Like me, she had a great interest in children and education.

"She was especially involved in the education of children with learning difficulties at the three previous special schools in this borough."

Mrs Bradley served on numerous committees and represented the council as chairwoman of the B&D Befrienders Company and management committees of York House and Grays Court home for the elderly.

In 1983 she was elected mayor and served as mayoress in 1989 to her husband, the late former councillor Peter Bradley. Mrs Bradley was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in 2001. Her funeral took place on July 1.