Honorary Burgess Mary tells tales from ten years of litter picking in Leighton-Linslade

Mary Cheshire, 82, was awarded the title in recognition of her voluntary service to the town as part of her work as a member of The Greensand Trust.

Determined Mary can often be seen removing rubbish from the riverbank with her trolley, while from time to time she will go for walks and collect litter into bags.

Mary said: “I started 10 years ago when I saw one of the trust’s rangers on duty, and I said, ‘I wouldn’t mind doing some litter picking’.

“I usually go down on Monday morning and pick up litter left from the weekend. It’s amazing what you find - big lumps of metal, foam, even coats, which I wash and take to the charity shops.

“I once found this thing wrapped up in a carrier bag under a laurel bush - it was a replica pistol! I rang up one of the rangers, Gary, and said ‘Now don’t laugh at me...’

“We found out that it had been used for a hold up.”

Whilst Mary is out litter picking, her husband, David, busies himself making bread - a delicious reward for her hard work - and Mary was pleased that her family were able to watch her receive the honour on Sunday, February 23.

On protecting nature, Mary said: “The rubbish from Leighton Buzzard can travel up the Ouzel and out in The Wash - the seals up in Norfolk can get this rubbish. There’s lots of fish in the river and all different species of birds. We’ve got to keep it tidy for the wildlife.”

During her life, Mary has been a nurse, a shopkeeper at Peddler’s Basket, has lived in New Zealand, and backpacked around Australia in her 60s; so her community spirit, zest for life and kind heart means she is always on the look out for others.

Mary, who has no plans to stop litter picking yet, said: “I once saw three people come out from under the bridge by the middle school - they’d been sleeping there. It’s awful and shouldn’t happen in Leighton Buzzard.

“While I’m out, I talk to people sometimes - a lot of people are just lonely. You need to do these things.”