TRIBUTES have been paid to an ‘incredible’ woman who was a former Mayoress of Worcester.

Jane Tibbutt, who was 80, died on May 25 at 9.38pm with her husband Dr David Tibbutt and their two sons beside her.

David, a former city councillor and Mayor of Worcester, said: “She was a wonderful wife, friend, mother and grandmother.

“She was my rock and support throughout our 54 years of marriage and we achieved things together: bringing up our children in difficult circumstances, service to the NHS, work in Uganda and Rwanda and our city Mayoralty in 2011 to 2012 to which she added so much sparkle. I miss her dreadfully.”

David said his wife was always smiling, adding: “She was always there. She bore her medical problems with immense stoicism and bravery to the end.

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“Everybody else’s problems were always worse than hers and she never complained in spite of many difficulties. She was a comfort to many and a great listener.”

Jane died from a large brain haemorrhage at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

David added: “I and my two sons were able to be with her during her final hours. Our special thanks to the Acute Stroke Unit at the hospital: the care on that ward is an example to others.

“The staff there should be proud of themselves and we should be proud of them.”

The couple met in 1959 while David was a nursing assistant. In 1965, David went to Uganda for a year, but the pair stayed in touch by sending letters to one another.

In 1966 they were married in Over Worton Church, Oxfordshire.The couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2016.

Jane was a former nurse and midwife and worked with David in the African hospitals and clinics.

He said: “I couldn’t have done my job without her. She was an incredible person. We visited almost all the hospitals in Uganda. Just us travelling in a Land Rover. Jane accompanied me on all the teaching sessions and ward rounds and made notes.”