TRIBUTES have been paid to Knutsford's only female Labour mayor, who has died at the age of 88.

Hilda Gates died on May 10 in hospital after a short illness.

She moved to Knutsford in 1954 from Stretford, living on Warren Avenue with husband Jack, a sailor from London, and three sons Colin, 64, Peter, 62, and Ken, 51, before moving to Elizabeth Gaskell Court, off Albert Street in 2000.

During her career she worked as a book-keeper for Rawsons and following retirement she became involved in the Co-operative Movement and was made chairman between 1990 and 1993.

In 1995 she was elected on to Knutsford Town Council and was made Mayor for the 1998/99 civic year, when she was 70. She was only the second official Labour mayor of the town, following in the footsteps of Bill Davies.

Talking to the Guardian in May 1998, Hilda said: "I think people have come to think of me as a fairly open and friendly person.

"And also someone who is not frightened to say what I think."

Ken told the Guardian his mum decided to be different and not hold the annual Mayor's ball at Tatton Park, which was typical among her Conservative colleagues. Instead she opted for a more 'rounded' occasion above the Royal George in the ballroom.

"She enjoyed putting her own point across," he said.

"She raised as much money for her charities at her ball as the big balls at Tatton Park used to raise. It was definitely different and wasn't expensive tickets. It was for the small businessmen in the town."

As a socialist, she was joined on the council by fellow Labour colleagues Bill Davies and Brian Daulby.

"She used to say everything that wrong was Margaret Thatcher's fault," Peter said.

"But she was well respected on both sides of the town council."

Ken added: "She was definitely forthright in her opinions."

When the Second World War broke out, Hilda and her two brothers, Arthur and James, were evacuated from Manchester to stay with two families in Lower Peover.

But due to her severe asthma she was sent back to Manchester, leaving her brothers behind.

Ken added he had received tributes to his mother from the Knutsford community.

"I uploaded a picture on Facebook when she died on to the 'Remembering Knutsford' group and people were commenting saying 'we've lost one of our own' today," he said.

"Even those on Warren Avenue would have been proud of her.

"She came into those houses when they were brand new and they would have been proud of her."

Colin added: "She cared about everybody and shared everything with everybody."

Martin Bell, Tatton MP when Hilda was mayor of Knutsford paid tribute to her.

"I am saddened to hear of the passing of Hilda Gates," he said,

"She served for a distinguished term as Mayor of Knutsford and did much good in the community. It was a privilege for me, during my single term as MP for Tatton, to work with her."

According to the Guardian archives, Hilda's pressing issues when she was named mayor was the sell-off of the Longridge estate, the A556 bypass and the pedestrianisation of King Street.

Talking about pedestrianisation, she said: "Until we see exactly what the borough council is going to do, it is difficult to comment. In principle, I like the idea. In practice it could be disastrous. It has to be right for the town."

Family from Greater Manchester and the south England were in attendance at her funeral held yesterday, Tuesday, at Altrincham Crematorium.

Hilda leaves sons Colin, Peter and Ken, grandchildren Emma, John, James and Hannah and great-grandchildren Jack and Emma.