Son and daughter of Stamford Mayor Maxine Couch pay tribute to their mum who lost her battle with lung cancer aged 55

The son and daughter of Stamford Mayor Maxine Couch have paid tribute to a brave and passionate woman who was a “force to be reckoned with”.

Amy Frankau and Ben Couch said they were in awe of the courage their mum displayed during her 16-month fight with lung cancer.

Maxine passed away at Peterborough City Hospital on Thursday, June 25, at the age of 55.

Speaking on behalf of herself and Ben, Amy said: “She has left a gaping hole in all of our lives and if anyone were to take anything from her legacy, it’d be: ‘pick yourself up, believe in yourself and try again. Be thankful for what you have and fight for what you believe in. Love yourself and others fiercely and always expect more’.”

She added: “We couldn’t be prouder of who she was and what she has achieved and personally, I can only aspire to be half the woman she was.”

Maxine was born in Yeovil, Somerset, in 1964 and moved to Oakham as a child.

She met her husband Bob whilst working at The King’s Arms in Wing, where she lived into her teenage years.

The couple married at Wing church and moved to Stamford where they had Amy and Ben, but were divorced 28 years ago. Maxine lived in Fitzwilliam Road for 24 years.

In her forties she found a passion in hot air ballooning and met some lifelong friends through her hobby.

“She loved nothing more than spending time with friends and family surrounded with good food, her favourite music and high-end Sauvignon Blanc!” added Amy.

Maxine joined the council a decade ago and threw herself into planning meetings and working her way up to mayor.

She and her family were enormously proud when she was sworn in during lockdown in May.

She was passionate about music, attended many festivals, gigs and concerts and loved the arts and local theatre.

Describing her mum’s battle with cancer, Amy said: “Mum battled with lung cancer for 16 months and was so brave throughout.

“She would always put everyone else before herself and firmly believed in seeing the positives in life. She was fiercely independent and never felt she was dealt a bad hand in life; she turned every negative situation into a positive, believing we were all in control of our own destiny.”

Maxine loved her family, but had a special place in her heart for one person in particular.

Amy said: “Ben and I were her children but honestly it’s like we didn’t exist because my son, Freddie who is five, was quite literally the apple of her eye. She absolutely doted on him and they had a very, very special bond.”

She added: “Mum was a formidable woman and she was a force to be reckoned with. I think if she were to be remembered as anything then it would be to have self-respect and stand up for what you believe in. She was a firm believer in community and that everyone has a part to play in society.”

The family said there will be a private funeral and then, when restrictions lift, a memorial at All Saints Church and then Stamford Town Hall.