THE widow of Camborne mayor Cyril Waterhouse has been praised for her dignity and courage following the sudden death of her husband.

Despite the emotional strain, Freda Waterhouse took over his official duties by opening The Camborne Town Band Solo and Quartet Contest at Camborne Science and Community College on Saturday.

Opening the event Mrs Waterhouse said she was honoured to be there in her husband's place.

"Cyril didn't finish his term as mayor and this band contest was the last event we said we would do together," she said "and I'm here representing him today.

"Cyril was always keen on Camborne Band, keen on people getting involved. He would have been thrilled to be here today, as I am, and you will all be the winners as you have done your very best."

Her speech was preceded by an emotional one-minute's silence held in memory of her husband who died suddenly last Tuesday.

Those at the opening ceremony praised Mrs Waterhouse for her strength of character in carrying out the role despite the tragic loss of her husband.

"She is coping extremely well," said town clerk Reg Bennett. "On Saturday, when she went to open the band contest, she made a tremendous speech which was a very brave thing to do in the circumstances.

"Right to the end she's carried on her role as mayoress with dignity and with the enthusiasm she showed when Cyril was alive. We, as a council, do appreciate that."

Mr Waterhouse was attending a meeting of the Boundary Commission at County Hall in Truro, last week, when he collapsed.

He was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital where all attempts to save him failed. Mrs Waterhouse was with her husband shortly before he died.

Paying tribute to her husband this week Mrs Waterhouse said: "He was a super human being and both of us have always appreciated what we have rather than wanting what we didn't. We had the same mind on that.

"I feel very strongly that his life should be celebrated rather than his death mourned. He was a good man and he did a lot of good in this world."

Mr Waterhouse moved to Cornwall 26 years ago from Plymouth after being offered the directorship of the Cornwall Education Centre in Pool where he helped serving teachers to continue further learning. The centre was an outpost of the College of St Mark and St John which Mr Waterhouse attended in his youth and through which he and Freda met at a dance in the early sixties.

After the centre closed, Mr Waterhouse had the opportunity to indulge his passion for politics, something he had been interested in before his retirement, becoming a town, district and county councillor over a six-year period.

"He was always a political creature. He was keen on people getting what they deserved and fairness," said Mrs Waterhouse. "He was a man who needed to use his head, that's why I think he also liked the cut and thrust of politics."

Mr and Mrs Waterhouse were delighted with the opportunity to be able to represent Camborne when Cyril was made mayor in May last year.

He and his wife had three children, who now live in London, Australia, and Kehella0nd, but who all made it home to celebrate this Christmas together with their families.

A rugby enthusiast, Mr Waterhouse had gained the respect and admiration of his fellow councillors throughout his time with them.

Reg Bennett, who worked alongside Mr Waterhouse as clerk to the town council, paid tribute to the former mayor. "Cyril's death is an enormous loss to Camborne town council, but also a tremendous loss to the town. He portrayed the post of mayor with an air of dignity and vigour of which all people of Camborne should be immensely proud.

"The political world of Cornwall has lost a man of immense stature and respectability who will be extremely difficult to replace. He will be sadly missed."

Town councillor Tony Bunce echoed Mr Bennett's sentiments: "He was respected by everybody. He never let his politics get in the way of common sense when we were debating. He will be missed by everybody and by me personally," he said.