HUNDREDS of people lined to the streets of Bude to pay their respects to the late Margaret Frost on Saturday, January 11.

Margaret, known locally as the ‘Queen of Bude’, passed away in the morning of Sunday, December 22, following a sudden heart attack during the night.

‘Frosty’ was an integral part of the Bude community and had been involved with many of the local organisations and clubs, notably collecting for Bude Town Band for more than 50 years; heavily supporting the Rotary Club; annually braving the wet weather in aid of the Poppy Appeal; and not forgetting being a friendly face famed for her cream teas at the Rustic Tea Gardens at Northcott Mouth.

Margaret was renowned for selflessly volunteering and raising money for various groups within the town, which subsequently earned her the British Empire Medal in 2017 as part of the Queen’s Honours List.

In recognition of her dedication to the town she loved, after the service she was escorted through the streets to allow hundreds of people to pay their respects.

The mayor of Bude, Cllr Bob Willingham described the day to show the true colours of the town.

He said: “The town will never see the likes of her again and the farewell she had was unprecedented. All the groups that carried her through the town showed the community spirit of Bude.

“The church was rammed with people and the streets were full. There were people stood with their St Piran’s flags clapping Margaret as she was paraded.

“It showed how much people loved her and I have never seen anything like it before.”

As Margaret had been such an integral part of various groups, many wanted to give her their own send off, therefore it was decided that after the service she would be carried on a vintage wheeled bier from the church along Ergue-Gaberic Way to The Crescent, along the Stand and up to the top of Belle Vue where she was placed on to the back of a hearse and conveyed to her final resting place in Poughill Cemetery.

After the service, Bude’s fire brigade began her journey across the town, carrying her from the Central Methodist Church to the fire station, where the bier was handed over to The Falcon Hotel staff who took Margaret across to the post office.

The BLEND youth collective brought her to the roundabout and then the town’s Rotary Club, Inner Wheel and carnival committee took it in turns to escort her along the Strand.

The vintage bier was then handed over to the RNLI, the Surf Life Saving Club, the coastguard and finally the lifeguards whilst she was taken up Belle Vue, before she began her final journey to Poughill Cemetery.

Cllr Willingham added: “It was so smooth, each of the groups handed over to one another so seamlessly and the procession was complemented so well by Bude Town Band leading the way, who played so well throughout the day.”

William Bryant of Arthur Bryant Funeral Services, who were chosen to conduct the day, was grateful to be able to give Margaret her final send off.

He said: “It was an honour and our privilege to carry out the funeral arrangements for Margaret, she was a much loved and well respected lady and will be sadly missed by the whole town.”