The dying wish of a former mayoress of Maldon has been fulfilled.

Precious pictures - town clerk Helen Vincent with the special album Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

A photo album commemorating the Queen's visit to Maldon in 1971 has been left to the town.

When the Queen visited on May 28, 1971, the Maldon and Burnham Standard, marked the occasion with a photo album, which was presented to the then mayor, Cyril Dowsett.

Because Mr Dowsett was a widower, his daughter, Ann, was her father's first mayoress between 1960 and 1961, and had supported him at all his mayoral functions. When he died, the album was passed to Ann, now known as Ann Dawson.

When the Queen visited Maldon, Ann, who attended Maldon Grammar School, had moved away, but came back to enjoy the celebrations.

Mrs Dawson died recently at 71, but her dying wish was that the album be brought back to Maldon for townspeople to enjoy.

Following her mother's death, her daughter, Helen, contacted the town council and arranged for the album to be displayed at the town hall in Market Hill.

Published Friday August 20, 2004

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