A former doctor, mayor and councillor for more than 50 years, who now lives in Shillingford, has been honoured by her former town, writes Gordon Rogers.

Dr Joan Harcourt-Norris, 93, has received the Freeman of Abingdon badge and ribbon in recognition of her work and commitment to the town and people of Abingdon and district.

Dr Harcourt-Norris, formerly of Norman Avenue, Abingdon, is now a resident at the Rushcourt nursing and residential home in Shillingford where she moved this year.

She received her insignia from the Mayor of Abingdon, Lesley Legge, who paid tribute to "a former distinguished Mayor of Abingon who did so much for the town".

Dr Harcourt-Norris was born in Leyton, Essex, and followed her father's foosteps into the medical profession. She trained at the Royal Free Hospital in London and after qualifying worked in hospitals in and around London.

She married in 1934 and then came face to face with old fashioned prejudice - the medical profession frowned on married women practising in hospitals so she left and took up general practice.

She worked as a GP in the Chingford area before and during the Second World War and after the war moved to Oxford and then Abingdon. Her husband - who died in 1988 - was a solicitor in Oxford and she became a GP in Abingdon.

Dr Harcourt-Norris was appointed medical officer of health for schools in the old North Berkshire area, now the Vale. She was elected to Abingdon Borough Council in 1964 and was Mayor in 1971-72. Later she was elected to the newly-formed Vale of White Horse District Council.

She was appointed a magistrate in 1952 and sat on the Abingdon magistrates' bench for 25 years. She was also deeply involved in the local branch of Age Concern, the preservation group Friends of Abingdon and in 1983 was appointed to represent the district council on the Oxfordshire Area Health Authority.

An old friend and former district councillor, John Jones, said: "She is respected and admired by so many people in the town and surrounding area and it is good to see that Abingdon has recognised the contribution Dr Harcourt-Norris made to the community."

Dr Harcourt-Norris said: "I have enjoyed my life and work in Oxfordshire. The Freeman of Abingdon badge is a great honour for me and I am very pleased that the town has recognised my work over the years."