THOSE who walk in the corridors of power at Westminster joined Newportonians of more workaday callings in saying farewell to Margaret 'Peggy' Morris, the mayoress of Newport who died on March 12.

St John the Evangelist Church, Maindee, began to fill almost an hour before the funeral as hundreds whose lives had in some way been touched by Peggy, as she was universally and affectionately known, filed in.

Mrs Morris (pictured with her husband) became the town's first lady last May when her husband, Ron, became mayor.

At the stroke of noon the coffin which was borne upon the shoulders of pallbearers which included Sir Harry Jones, leader of Newport county borough council and Mr Alan Howarth, Member of Parliament for Newport East, entered the quietened church. The choir which was to lead the congregation in singing the mayoress' favourite hymns was already in place.

Margaret Morris was born at Aberdare in June, 1930 together with her twin sister, May. Another sister, Gwyneth, was to arrive later. On Boxing Day 1951 Peggy married Ron Morris in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, May.

Straight away after the wedding Peggy moved to London to begin her new life with Ron, a professional footballer with Crystal Palace. After his retirement from football they returned home to Wales and Newport where they ran a general store and newsagents in Somerton Road until their retirement from business 20 years ago.

The beginning of Councillor Morris' political career in 1981 marked the start of two decades during which his wife became an increasingly important part of Newport's social and political life. This approached a culmination in 1998/1999 when Councillor Morris became deputy mayor and herself deputy mayoress. It reached its peak in May 2001 when with Councillor Morris becoming mayor - the last of the county borough council as it turned out - of Newport.

Among the mourners were Mr Paul Flynn, Member of Parliament for Newport West, Mr William Graham AM for South Wales East and leader of the Conservative group on the city council and dignitaries from neighbouring authorities as well as senior local government figures.

'Peg' was a woman of the Valleys and her husband a man who has spent his life serving Newport but they were united as in all else, in a love of their native Wales. How appropriate then, to hear the stirring yet plaintive sound of Calon Ln, the mayoress' best loved Welsh hymn.

Mrs Morris is survived by her husband and her son, Gareth.