BICESTER’S first woman town mayor – re-elected to the post a further two times – and councillor of more than 20 years has died aged 92.

Joan Blackman was first elected to Bicester Town Council in 1976 and five years later was unanimously elected mayor.

She had previously made her mark by becoming involved in town groups, including the Bicester Townswomen’s Guild, 1st Bicester Scouts, the League of Friends of Bicester Hospital and the Bicester branch of the Church of England’s Children’s Society.

Upon taking up the post, she immediately made headlines by asking to be known as “Madam Mayor”, instead of “Mayoress”.

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Bicester had only ever had a woman “First Citizen” before in 1952, when it had an urban district council. Her success was followed by re-elections in 1985 and 1994 and over the years she earned the reputation of being a council stalwart.

During her two decades as a town councillor, she was present for many changes including the restoration of The Garth, the launch and commissioning of the third HMS Bicester – a minesweeper ship – at Southampton and Portsmouth respectively.

She also signed two town-twinning agreements with Neunkirchen-Seelscheid in Germany and with Canton des Essarts, in France.

Rosemary Joan Blackman, known as Joan, was born in Gowell Farm, Bicester, on Christmas Day 1921, to George and Rose.

She was one of seven children and was a pupil at Dr Radcliffe’s School in Steeple Aston.

After leaving school she entered service, before her family moved to Home Farm, Bicester, in 1938 and she returned to work there.

During the Second World War a number of servicemen lodged at the farm and it was then that she met her future husband, plane mechanic Jim Blackman.

The couple married on November 3, 1945 in St Edburg’s Church, Bicester. It was a marriage that was to last more than 60 years.

They first lived together in Swindon and then Exeter, before returning to Home Farm in 1951, to look after Mrs Blackman’s parents.

They later moved to Kennedy Road, Bicester in 1968 where they would stay until 2004.

Mr and Mrs Blackman had their first child, Janet, in 1947, followed by Alan in 1949.

In her spare time, Mrs Blackman was a keen gardener and knitter.

Joan Blackman died on September 9 after a short period of illness. She is survived by her children Janet and Alan, as well as her grandchildren, Joanne and Christopher. Her husband predeceased her in 2009.

A private funeral service will take place at Banbury Crematorium on October 2.

On the same day, a memorial will be held in St Edburg’s Church in Old Place Yard, Bicester, at 1pm, for all those who knew her.