TRIBUTES have been paid to a former headteacher at Burnham County Primary School, who has died aged 98.

Mildred Stratford passed away at the Lodge Care Home in Maldon in April.

She was born in Maldon in December 1917 and lived in the area her whole life including 60 years in the family home in Acadia Drive.

Five years ago she moved to The Lodge Home where she spent her final days.

Mildred, who never married, trained as a teacher and finished her career as headteacher at Burnham County Primary School.

Her second cousin, Graham Belsham, said: “Many people remember ‘Miss Stratford’ with found affection.

“She was a staunch Christian, a Sacristan, played the church organ and regularly attended mass.

“For her services to the church, she was presented with a medal by Bishop Thomas McMahon.

“She drove a car up to her early 90s when her eyesight deteriorated. Also, she was very proud of the fact she never had an accident.”

Mildred lived with her sister Winnie and her parents until Winnie married in 1976 and moved to Somerset.

But Mildred stayed on at the family home.

She was a member of the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and enjoyed travelling.

Graham added: “Mildred lived life to the full, being a member of the WRVS in her earlier years, enjoying holidays in this country, America and Ireland and she also did Scottish dancing.

“Her hobbies included jigsaws, crosswords and knitting squares.”

Graham said Mildred loved the television and was an avid viewer of programmes including Coronation Street and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Her funeral was held at the Catholic Church in Maldon last Monday.

Graham added: “Many people turned up to sing hymns she had chosen beforehand, and also give thanks for a long and distinguished life.”