Tributes to Walcot councillor Mavis Childs who died at 82

Mavis Childs became a passionate advocate for the area after moving to Swindon from Hull in the 1960s.

She and her family then moved to Wroughton in the early ‘90s, where she led a valiant but unsuccessful attempt to save the Princess Alexandra Hospital at RAF Wroughton.

This included a petition signed by almost 50,000 people, a heated debate being sparked in Parliament, a coachload of Swindonian protestors going to Number 10 Downing Street to make their objections known, and 150 people marching up Brimble Hill to rally outside the hospital – with Mrs Childs right at the front.

Despite the change of address, she still spent much of her time in Walcot, welcoming a £40,000 revamp for a vandalised play area in Huntley Close in 2004 and organising a rally in Buckhurst Field in 2007 to campaign against gun, knife and drug crimes.

The Adver's Mum’s the Word columnist said at the time: “It felt really good to be part of this. To me, this is what it is all about - the whole community coming together and uniting against anti social behaviour.”

In 2011, Mavis cut the ribbon on the newly-reopened Walcot Dome – now known as the Buckhurst Park Community Centre - and helped oversee the regeneration of Sussex Square.

A tree was planted in Buckhurst Field in tribute to her tireless efforts when she retired. The 82-year-old died earlier this month after a short illness.

Demolition of homes on Marlowe Avenue

Her daughter Cara said: “She was just wonderful, she was my best friend and a brilliant person with a huge heart.

“She was a brilliant mum, wife, nan and great-gran who would give her last penny to someone in need – but she had a fiery side if you messed with her family.

“She would go out of her way to help anybody, she always had time for people and went above and beyond.

“People she helped would still give her a call or meet for coffee after she retired. Dad used to ferry her around to the meetings - they met when she was 16.

"So many people have got in touch because they want to say a proper final goodbye. Mum touched a lot of people’s lives and it would not be fair to deny them a chance to pay their respects.”

The funeral will be held at Kingsdown Crematorium on April 6 at 10.30am. Mavis will then be interred at St John the Baptist Church.

Mavis Childs

One Adver reader from wrote a letter praising her in 2004: “As a resident of Walcot, I would like to point out that Coun Mavis Childs is always working in the ward.

“She visits Sussex Square or the Dome on a daily basis and is always available to speak to residents or handle their problems.

“During the recent election campaign, she visited my friends and I on more than one occasion and could be seen continuing with her duties and campaigning in all weathers."