Around 500 mourners attended the funeral of former Bedford Borough Councillor Celia Hanbury at All Saints’ Church in Turvey on Friday.
Councillor for Turvey between 2002 and 2007, Mrs Hanbury died in a car accident on the A428 at Croxton near St Neots on January 12 and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 61 year-old lived at Turvey House with her husband Daniel who served as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire between 2010 and 2011.
So great was the level of support at her funeral that the local police team was directing traffic through the village to prevent the roads from becoming unsafe as grieving friends and family entered the church.
Councillor Mark Smith who took over from Celia Hanbury in Turvey attended the funeral where all four of her children paid tribute to their mother.
He said: "There were as many people inside as outside and it wasn't just villagers that came out but everyone who knew her.
"It is a tribute to her and her life that so many people came to the service."
