A “force to be reckoned with” who dedicated her life to helping transform a Kent town has died aged 89.

Palma Laughton spent more than five decades living in Stanhope - the area she helped transform through one of the borough’s most ambitious regeneration projects.

Her son Nick has paid tribute this week, describing her as “a force to be reckoned with” who gave everything to the people around her.

“She was mayor of Ashford from 1995 to 1996 and a councillor for about 20 years,” he said.

“She wasn’t from Ashford, but she gave her life to this town.

“She spent more than 50 years in Stanhope.”

Mrs Laughton, who was awarded an MBE in 2010 for her dedication to the Ashford community, moved to Stanhope with her husband Frankie in 1968, shortly after the estate was built.

Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, she moved to London for work before settling in Ashford.

As a councillor, Mrs Laughton was at the heart of the £200 million regeneration of Stanhope - a project launched in the early 2000s to address decades of deterioration and change negative perceptions of the estate.

She championed the replacement of outdated tower blocks with new homes, the refurbishment of hundreds of properties, and the building of a new community hub.

“Some said Stanhope had a bad reputation without even visiting,” Mrs Laughton told KentOnline in 2021.

“But I knew these were some of the friendliest people you’d meet.

“I told people to come walk the streets – they’d leave with a new friend.”

Mrs Laughton, who died on May 30, is survived by her two children, Nick and Frank, along with two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

Her husband Frankie passed away in 2020 after 61 years of marriage.

Nick described his mother as someone who never stopped giving.

“She raised money for the Ashford Sea Cadets and RNLI many times,” he added.

“She was chair of Stanhope Parish Council right up until just past Covid, even after taking a step back.

“It really was a lifetime of work for her in that community.”

In her later years, Mrs Laughton moved into Montfort Manor care home following a stroke.

“She was the strong one in the family – always there for us and the grandchildren,” Nick added.

“Since her passing, we have received an outpouring of messages.

“People have said things like, ‘she was a pillar of the community,’ and ‘a star of my sweetest memories.’

“She always looked after others before herself.”

“She will be sorely missed but remembered with fondness…”

Ashford historian Steve Salter has also paid tribute to Mrs Laughton, describing her as an “extremely kind” woman.

He added: “Palma was a wonderful lady, and she was not only extremely passionate about the people she dealt with, but her fantastic disposition as a person made her an absolute delight to know and to speak with.

“She was extremely kind and helped transform Stanhope into the much-improved estate it is today, but always with her faithful and gentlemanly husband Frankie by her side.

“She will be sorely missed but remembered with fondness.”

Mrs Laughton’s funeral will be held at Charing Crematorium on Monday, June 23 at 10.30am, followed by a wake at the Conningbrook Hotel from 12pm.

“Everyone is welcome,” Nick said.

“We want to give her the best send-off and honour the amazing legacy she leaves behind.”