The Chiltern community paid their respects to much-loved district councillor Davida Allen during her funeral in Amersham yesterday.

The mother of four, who was first elected in 1999, passed away suddenly on Thursday November 5 aged 76.

The ceremony, which took place at 12.30pm St Mary's Church, Old Amersham, was attended by around 350 people and conducted by The Reverend Tim Harper.

The Liberal Democrat district councillor, who served the Amersham Town ward and lived in Stanley Hill, was described by her family as “irreplaceable” and “delightfully different” by colleagues.

Her son Martin said: “Mum was quite simply everything you'd wish for in a Mum: Loving, caring and selfless.

“Her lasting legacy will be through how she has improved the lives of those she leaves behind and for that I'll forever be thankful.”

Her other son Chris said: “Mum always put others before herself in every situation - I can't remember even one example of her thinking about herself before others.

“She was hugely intelligent and doggedly determined. Her whole world was her family and her animals - she is irreplaceable.”

Her daughter Julie said: “Our Mum had a big heart, spending her life caring for her family and those in her community.

“She put her all into everything that she encountered. We will miss her greatly but will continue to carry on her good works in Amersham to keep her legacy going.”

Her other daughter Kathryn said: “Mum was a lady that I honoured and admired greatly. I will miss her cheery, loving greeting when she saw me.

“It was heart-warming to see a number of locals, shop workers and council staff paying their respects during the funeral.”

The funeral cortege started at noon from Stanley Hill, before travelling up Woodside Road - stopping at Chiltern District Council - Hill Avenue and down Station Road to St Mary’s Church.

After the service, the family went on to Stanley Hill cemetery for a private burial, where they say she was buried near her father's remains.

In his eulogy to the mother of four, Cllr Peter Jones - leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group – said: “Davida was delightfully different - but no less effective for that.

"If a child were asked to draw a councillor, I don't think we would get a picture of a lady on a bicycle, with hat and flapping scarf in a mess of orange and brown.

“In addition to being hard-working, competent and enthusiastic she was also caring and friendly.

“She really cared about the people she represented and made every effort to help everybody who needed help.”

Cllr Allen was first elected in 1999, serving until 2011 before winning her seat back in May this year.

Cllr Isobel Darby, leader at Chiltern District Council, said: “Davida was a good councillor, her residents could not have wished for a better person to represent them.

“She was a popular and valued colleague and always introduced a great deal of common sense to debates. We will miss her terribly.”

Mimi Harker, Chair of the Chiltern District council, said: “The service was perfect. You left thinking ‘what an amazing woman and what an amazing life’ – it was very uplifting.”

Tony Westhead said: “Davida was a tremendous character who was truly motivated by a desire to serve the local community.

“It was wonderful to see her cycling round Old Amersham Town and she will be very much missed by everybody who knew her.”

Cllr Allen was the driving force behind a project to transform an area of scrubland off Fieldway, Old Amersham into a playground.

The project was granted permission on October 22 - just two weeks before her death.

Her family have created a webpage in the hope of raising £5,000 towards the project. Donations can be made at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/martin-oxley.