Mayoress, 56, dies of cancer

The Mayoress of Kidderminster has died, aged 56, after an 18-month battle with lung cancer. Emotional tributes were pouring in today for the "courageous" mayoress.

Gloria Shellie, wife of mayor Councillor Mike Shellie, lost her fight at St Richard's Hospice, Worcester, on Saturday. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989.

Later she went into remission after treatment at Kidderminster Hospital but was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2006.

Despite her illness, Mrs Shellie continued at her husband's side for most of their civic engagements, including the Kidderminster Remembrance Day parade.

She was well known for a successful 12-year motorcycle and sidecar racing partnership with her husband from the late 1970s. Afterwards, the mother-of-four was a housewife at the family home in Wilton Avenue.

Mr Shellie said despite all his wife's achievements, one of her proudest moments was becoming mayoress.

He added: "Gloria knew she was dying and she didn't try to hide it. She was incredibly brave and tried to do as much as she could, including her civic duties, during the time she had left.

"She was the reason I got into politics. I was so infuriated about the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital after she had been treated so well there that I became involved with Health Concern."

Health Concern leader, Howard Martin, said: "I had known Gloria a long time. She was a very special lady and she handled her illness, especially in the later stages, in a very positive way. She gained the respect of everybody who came into contact with her. She was a tremendous role model to anyone who had a serious illness. She was a real treasure."

Councillor Fran Oborski, who lost her husband Mike to cancer last year, said: "She was a lovely lady who handled both her illness and all her civic duties with grace and dignity. She will be sadly missed."