Former mayor 'was the heart and soul of town'

A former mayor has been described as "the heart and soul of Redditch", following her death at the age of 93.

Madge Tillsley, or Auntie Madge as she was known, became Worcestershire's first black mayor in 1991.

She was "quite a powerful woman" and a "very strong advocate" for those that needed help, Redditch Borough Council leader Joe Baker said.

He said: "She used to shoot from the hip. I think she used to say what was on her mind."

Baker added that "back in the day it was very hard for people who were in different minorities".

"Madge led the way for other people," he said, "it was a shining example of somebody that puts themselves forward for community service."

'Really hard-working'

The leader described the former Redditch borough councillor as a "strong, strong character", who supported elderly forums.

"I know that when she used to do campaigns that she put her heart and soul into it.

"When Madge was out there in the 80s, there [weren't] a lot of women in politics.

"We had a lot of strong women in politics, but it wasn't a large amount of women."

To balance family, council work and all the community groups that she supported, she was a "really hard-working lady", Baker said.

"She was the heart and soul of Redditch and a very, very strong advocate for those that were less fortunate, those that needed help."

Baker said when he was mayor, she was very supportive and always attended his events.

"Madge would be sitting there with a chair and a walking stick keeping an eye on everybody and making sure that nobody was falling out of line.

"She was quick to put you back in line if you were mischievous."