‘We’ve lost Peterborough’s greatest ever citizen’ - Tributes paid to former city mayor

Audrey Chalmers was surrounded by her family at her home in Jubilee Street as she died peacefully following a battle with ill health.

The mother of three and grandmother had represented Fletton ward for 32 years as a city and county councillor - including a stint as mayor in the early 1980s - and was described by her brother Charles Swift as “the best councillor that Peterborough has ever had”.

Mr Swift, who himself spent 62 years on the council, said: “There is nobody in the history of Peterborough, as far as I’m concerned, that’s done more for the community.

“Audrey would go where angels fear to tread. She would roll up her sleeves and do anything.

“She was well known and well respected. She was a grassroots councillor. She stood alone on many occasions.

“Right until the very end she was a staunch, Labour socialist. She was a Labour member for 75 years since she was 12.

“They won’t come like her again. She has contributed more to the city of Peterborough (than anyone else). She was a grafter and would fight anyone’s corner. She didn’t give a monkey’s.

“We’ve lost the best citizen that Peterborough has ever had.”

Conservative leader of Peterborough City Council Cllr John Holdich said: “I worked with Audrey over most of her time on the council. She was an awesome opponent.

“Whilst Labour ran through her blood nothing matched her passion for her local residents. She fought tooth and nail for everybody.

“She was awesome. You had to have your wits about you if you were going to take her on. She was a great person.”