THE Queen of Bude’s daughter has expressed her thanks to the whole town for the heart-warming send off afforded to her mother recently.

Michele Frost, known locally as Mitch, was ‘blown away’ by how many people lined the streets of Bude to pay their respects to one of the town’s most infamous and kind ladies, Margaret ‘Frosty’ Frost.

Mitch said: “Thank you from the Queen of Bude’s daughter. Thank you to the whole of Bude, all my mum’s friends from near and far and our lovely family who made my mum’s send off so amazing on Saturday [January 11].

“Where do I begin — mum would never in a million years believe how much she was loved by so many wonderful friends and family. Mum would have loved it and I feel so, so proud of my mum and all that she achieved in just being a lovely, kind, hard working, fun loving, compassionate person. She really made a difference to so many people by her loving and caring ways, giving people time to listen to them and providing wisdom and strength. So many people have told me so many stories of her kindness and it has been so wonderful and heart warming to hear. Thank you.”

She added: “Mum would say to me ‘I just want you to be proud of me,’ I can truly say I could not be prouder of anyone.”

Mitch said she was not only proud of her mother, but proud of the town she lived in that came out in force to mourn her death. She said: “I am also so proud to come from Bude, what an amazing place, full of beauty in its people and landscape. I believe and I have seen that we have a culture in Bude which is unique — a place where people give their time, their love and their laughter in abundance. We may not be financially rich but we are so full of wealth in so many of ways.”

It was clear Margaret had an impact on many people’s lives, as evident by the many tributes that flooded in following her sad passing.

Mitch said: “Thank you to tributes from Bob Willingham, Jonathan Ball, Pete Vickery, Janie Sheppard, beautiful poems from Hilary Curtis and Sarah Jose, the Corinthians read by Pam Frost and the amazing song written and performed by Graham Hodgson was so very, very special. Thank you to the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and Scott Mann MP for their beautiful letters. Thank you to the lifeguards of Bude and those living in Australia for your kind messages to mum. Thank you to the friends and family who travelled so far to come to mum’s funeral — from ‘up North, even from Switzerland and back from Australia. Thank you to my dear friend Colin May who read my tribute and thank you to Sharon Hicks for always being there for mum and I.”

Following the service, in order to allow all the local groups she had been affiliated with the opportunity to pay their respects, Frosty was escorted through the streets on a vintage wheeled bier.

Mitch said: “I could not believe the number of organisations who took my mum on her last journey through the streets of Bude led by her beloved Bude Town Band. The band played in the church and then all through the town mum’s favourite music ‘jazzy marching’ as she would call it and the furry dance.

“I was blown away by the number of people who lined the streets to say their farewell.”

Mitch wished to express her thanks to everyone that came out to pay their respects and all those who have supported her at this difficult time.

She said: “Thank you Bob Willingham, mayor of Bude-Stratton, for organising this amazing and truly beautiful procession. Thank you to Bude’s truly caring and loving undertakers — William, Kingsley and Arthur Bryant and their amazing team who thought of every last detail, even putting red and cream petals into mum’s final resting place representing her delicious cream teas (red petals first of course!)

“Thank you all the wonderful people at the Methodist Church who allowed us to have mum’s service at the biggest church and hall in Bude and thank you to The Rev Teresa Folland for leading the service so seamlessly. Thank you to Debbie Hatch, the Brendon family and the amazing Falcon team for the delicious pasty and cream tea reception. Thank you to the Chadd family for your kindness to my mum and throughout this difficult time. Thank you to Sarah Penny for creating and giving mum the most beautiful flowers. Thank you Shirley Wilche for being by mum when she really needed you. Thank you to Pam, our girls Katie and Louise, my family on both sides and all the staff and governors at Liphook infant and junior schools who have and are supporting me. Thank you to Rob Prideaux, Arronn Gregory, Dan Frost, Steve Barton, Charlie Prideaux, Tom Hasson and Bob Willingham for carrying mum.”

The love Margaret had for her town was reciprocated by all who knew her, a fact that became evident during the day of her funeral.

Mitch concluded: “I knew mum was loved, and of course, I’ve watched mum over the years love so unconditionally but never did I realise she was loved this much. Mum was a very special person, full of love, full of drive, compassion, humility and determination and she loved and listened without judgement. Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday, for the cards, for your kind words and for your utter support. I cannot explain how it is helping at this difficult and sad time.

“Mum left us on a high, singing the day before she left us with the band she loved through the town and loving life. It would have been an ending that she would have loved — doing what she loved and being in the place she loved — her beautiful sunny Bude. Let’s keep the Margaret Frost love and generosity alive in our hearts and in all we do. Thank you to everyone.”

Mitch received hundreds of tributes and letters from people who knew her mother and wished to pay their respects.

Sarah Jose from Bude Carnival wrote a poem entitled ‘Our Carnival Queen’ in honour of Frosty.

It read: 

Silence the band, take the bunting down,

The most infectious laughter, has left our town.

We still can’t believe it, there’s not a dry eye,

You were there and now your gone, no chance to say goodbye.

But what a privilege it was, to have you in our lives,

There to listen, and bring our ideas alive.

Always ready to help,“I’ll do that, leave it to me”

And then kept us well fed, with your yummy cream tea!

You showed us fun and laughter, is always the best way,

And cared so much, “love you” we’d hear you say.

So in your honour this year, we’ll have the best Carnival day,

Hoist up the flags, and the band will play!