CLOSE on 200 people crowded into All Saint Church, Bromsgrove, last Thursday for a civic service in memory of district councillor Terri Matthews.

Terri died in September following a short illness. Among those at the service were Lord and Lady Cobham, former MP Sir Hal Miller, civic leaders, past and present district and county councillors, friends, and representatives from the many charitable and other organisations she was involved with.

Tributes were given by her long-time friend Councillor Nick Psirides, former district councillor Marguerite Butt and Mo Smith, who used to work in the district council's leisure services department.

A canticle was led by Cllr Dave McGrath and former councillor Cathy Mole read from St John's Gospel.

In his tribute, Cllr Psirides recalled how he first got to know Terri 20 year ago when she headed a protest group fighting to keep the spur of the M42 as far away from Catshill as possible.

She later became a councillor and within weeks had persuaded council leader Henry Chattin to spend £5,000 on a new roof for Catshill Village Hall.

Looking back briefly over her life he said she had other talents. An accomplished businesswoman who owned a chain of clothes shop, Terri was also responsible for bringing hot pants to the Midlands in the late 60s.

She was also heavily involved in the arts scene both locally and further afield. She served as a non-executive director at the Alexandra Hospital.

Speaking of her many achievements Cllr Psirides said the bandstand in Sanders Park must rate highly, as well as her unwavering support for a Bromsgrove arts centre.

Her sense of humour had kept him going during the many troubled times he experienced in public life, added Cllr Psirides.

Miss Butt, who shared a home with Terri until moving to Somerset some years ago, spoke of Terri's love for making and wearing jewellery.

"To my mind she was like a many faceted gemstone," she said. "Diamond-like she was strong, resilient, bright, enduring and with a unique sparkle and style of her own."

The service included The Lord's Prayer sung by Mario Lanza and the Blue Danube by Richard Strauss.