Tributes have been paid by the family and council colleagues of Broadland councillor Sue Prutton, who has died aged 80.

The only child of John and Phyllis Cowell, Ms Prutton was born in Hethersett on August 6, 1942.

She attended the village primary school before accepting a scholarship to Norwich High School.

Norwich Evening News: A young Sue PruttonA young Sue Prutton (Image: Supplied by Angie Burnett)

In her younger years, she worked at Bonds - now John Lewis - before securing a position at Steward and Patterson as well as in the labs at Watneys Brewery.

She married her first husband, George Moore, in Hethersett in 1963 and had two children, Angela in 1965 and Robert in 1967.

In 1975 she married her second husband Don Prutton, who died in 2002.

While her children were young she stayed at home, and in 1980 she joined the HMSO.

Her daughter Angela Burnett said: "My mum was absolutely everywhere.

"Everywhere you went, there was a connection to her."

Norwich Evening News: Sue Prutton, née Cowell, in the early 1960sSue Prutton, née Cowell, in the early 1960s (Image: Supplied by Angie Burnett)

Ms Prutton, who lived in Hellesdon, was first elected to Broadland District Council in 2019, sitting on a number of committees and serving as vice chair of the appeals panel.

But even before her councillor role, she was still very active in the community, working in a plethora of roles in various schools across the city and beyond, including at UEA.

She was a National Trust member and volunteer at the gardens at Blickling, as well as a keen supporter of the RSPB and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

A passionate singer, she was into opera and was part of Norfolk Opera Players and stayed with the group in a more administrative role.

"She had more hours in a day than we do, I don't know how she did it all," Angela added.

"She had the mind and energy of a 40-year-old, but I had to remind her that she had the body of an 80-year-old.

Norwich Evening News: Sue Prutton celebrating the Queen's JubileeSue Prutton celebrating the Queen's Jubilee (Image: Supplied by Angie Burnett)

"I'm so proud of all she did.

"I didn't have a notion of her impact until she died.

"She took all her work very seriously and was conscious of the importance of her roles.

"I wish to have her passion and energy and dedication when I reach her age."

Sue died suddenly and unexpectedly on December 15, 2022 at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital while recovering from a fall.

She leaves behind her daughter Angela and two grandchildren in Oxfordshire and her son Robert and two grandchildren in Norfolk.

Norwich Evening News: Cllr Sue Prutton with a newly installed defibrillator in HellesdonCllr Sue Prutton with a newly installed defibrillator in Hellesdon (Image: Supplied by Angie Burnett)

On January 19 there will be a memorial service at St Giles Church from 12.30pm. At the request of her family, bright ties or scarves are to be worn.

Donations to Retina UK can be made online or sent via Kevin Cobbold Funeral Services at 109 Cromer Road, NR6 6XW.

John Fisher, chairman of Broadland District Council, said: "Sue was my vice-chairman.

"She absolutely loved the role and looked forward to hopefully being vice-chairman this year.

"Since her passing, I've had emails and letters from all over, and from people she'd only met in the last six months or so. They were so impressed with her as a person they felt compelled to write.

"Whatever she did, she gave 110%. In the pandemic, she stood in for councillors in Brundall for nine months.

Norwich Evening News: Cllr Sue Prutton, who has died at the age of 80Cllr Sue Prutton, who has died at the age of 80 (Image: Supplied by Angie Burnett)

"She really was an amazing person and I could not have wished for a better vice-chairman.

"She was by my side all the while. I cannot praise her enough both as my vice and generally in her role as councillor.

"Despite her years, she was very diligent and very knowledgeable, still as bright as a button and very willing to convey her views on anything.

"She was absolutely excellent."

Fellow Broadland and Hellesdon councillor Shelagh Gurney added: "Sue was an active councillor in Hellesdon.

"I first knew her before she was a councillor when she was a very active member with Hellesdon Speed Watch and the Hellesdon and Horsford Safer Neighbourhoods Action Panel.

Norwich Evening News: Cllr Sue PruttonCllr Sue Prutton (Image: Submitted)

"She became a parish councillor and held a number of positions, and for a short period was chairwoman.

"She was proactive and worked very hard.

"She has left a big void in Hellesdon because of her caring and positive attitude towards the community."