Town mourns death of ex-Mayor Sylvia

Former Mayor of Sudbury Sylvia Byham, who devoted a lifetime to serving the community she loved, has died aged 86.

Tributes were paid this week to the great-grandmother who spent more than 50 years as a councillor, campaigner and charity fundraiser.

Lord Phillips of Sudbury said: ”She was an example of the best sort of local councillor. She may have been a Conservative but she first and foremost a Sudburian.

“She was energetic, sympathetic and fun to be with.”

Sudbury-born Mrs Byham lived in Great Cornard with her husband Roy, who died in 2004. They married in 1950 and had two sons, Michael and David.

Towards the end of her life she moved into Hillside Care Home, Great Cornard.

Joining Great Cornard Parish Council in the 1960s was the start of half a century of service at town, parish and district level. Throughout she was a staunch supporter of the Conservative Party.

Local causes she fought for included Sudbury’s rail link, and the campaign for a new hospital.

After being treated for breast cancer in 2000 she founded an appeal that raised tens of thousands of pounds to improve treatment for other cancer sufferers.

Sudbury’s deputy mayor Sue Ayres said: “Sylvia helped me so much when I first joined the town council. She was such a good friend, and had a wonderful sense of humour.”

Mrs Byham’s funeral will be held at St Gregory’s Church, Sudbury, on Wednesday September 16 at 2pm. Donations in her memory can be made to Cancer Research UK care of East of England Co-op Funeral Service, Cornard Road, Sudbury, CO10 2XA.