The Town Mayor, Councillors and Council staff send their condolences to the family of Mrs Freda Roberts MBE who sadly passed away yesterday (26 August 2021).
Freda was a stalwart of the local community. She was devoted to the people and Parish of Aylesbury.
Freda, a former nurse, was born and bred in Yorkshire. She moved to Aylesbury after she met her late husband Rupert while he was stationed in the county during the Second World War and visiting one of his comrades in hospital.
Rupert and Freda married and settled first in Aylesbury High Street before moving later on to Southcourt, where they brought up their two children.
Freda developed a soft spot for the town and its people and was first elected as a councillor for Southcourt on the Aylesbury Borough Council in 1963 before the local authority reshuffle in 1974, when it became Aylesbury Vale District Council.
Freda was Mayor of Aylesbury three times, represented the former Bucks County Council, appointed a magistrate, been a school governor, made an Alderman and was involved with various charities and organisations. Freda also was fundamental in the re-establishment of Aylesbury Town Council throughout the 1990s.
Mrs Roberts was awarded the title of Honorary Freewoman of the Parish of Aylesbury in 2016, an honour which is only awarded on rare and exceptional occasions after serving the people of Aylesbury for over 52 years.