Fiery redhead and much-loved former mayor Millie Brister has passed away at her Feltham home, just three weeks before her 95th birthday.

The passionate Labour supporter and founding member of the Feltham Community Association was well-known in the town for her long history of community work and time as the borough's first citizen. She died on January 2.

Her son David Howell, 65, told the Chronicle: "Mum was a very kind and passionate person who always worked hard to help the people around her. She could also be quite fiery and was never the sort of person to suffer fools but she was an amazing woman who continued to do a lot for the whole community well into her old age."

Mrs Brister was born in central London on January 24, 1914, and christened Amelia Florence Beeching.

In 1937, she married Sydney Howell and three years later the couple moved to Feltham with her family and many of their neighbours to escape the Blitz.

They settled in Percival Road and later had two sons, Bill, who has since passed away, and David, who still lives on the Allied Estate, in nearby Vernon Road.

The couple later divorced and in 1953 she married again to long-distance lorry drive Vince Brister.

Mrs Brister, who was a keen crocheter, spent most of her working life as a civil servant, and was for many years based at the Reme Barracks, in Feltham.

She was a shop steward for the CSCA trade union and an active member of the local Labour party, serving as a councillor from 1994-98.

Tory councillor Barbara Harris said: "I knew Millie well when I was growing up and she was a unique woman of great honesty and integrity.

"Although we are members of different parties it's easy to praise Millie as she was always the sort of person who put residents before politics. People could approach her anywhere and she'd always make time to try and help them. She'll be sorely missed."

Mrs Brister's served as deputy mayor in 1995/96 and as mayor the following year, at the age of 84. She was a founding member of the Feltham Community Association, in 1972, and continued as their treasurer until 2006.

Her other community commitments in her later years included serving on the Pensioners' Forum and supporting Age Concern.

Mrs Brister's funeral will take place at 1pm at St Dunstan's Church, Feltham, and she will be buried at 1.45pm at Feltham Cemetery on January 23.

Friends and family, including David, her grandson Wayne, and Bill's partner Frank Long, will then gather to remember her at St Giles's hotel, Hounslow Road, Feltham, at 2.30pm. Friends and flowers welcome.

Any donations can be made to Millie's favourite charities, Helen & Douglas House, in Oxford, and the Shooting Star Children's Hospice, in Hampton. Please contact David on 020 8890 4229.