TRIBUTES have been paid to a Bewdley businesswoman with an “irrepressible” smile who has died following a battle with cancer.

Mandy Hughes, who started Chores Cleaning Services with her husband Steve, died on February 7 at the age of 59.

Mr Hughes has described his late wife as “perfect” and was by her side when she passed away. 

The couple married in 2008 and decided to set up the cleaning business the following year after being made redundant from their jobs. They spent 20 years together in a bungalow on Northwood Lane. 

Around the time of their first wedding anniversary, Mandy was diagnosed with bowel cancer and received chemotherapy at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. 

“She was ill all weekend and she’d be back at work Monday morning,” Mr Hughes said. 
Chores Cleaning Services has employed nearly 300 people after all its years in business. 

Mandy made the front page of The Shuttle when she and cleaning colleague Angela Crewe, helped a frantic father deliver a baby at the Mitre Oak pub car park in Kidderminster nearly a decade ago. 

Kidderminster Shuttle: Mandy Hughes and Angela Crewe with the baby they deliveredMandy Hughes and Angela Crewe with the baby they delivered

Mr Hughes, aged 61, said he put an advertisement in the newspaper that week that said “Chores Cleaning Services – we deliver.”

He said: “She was perfect. She was a whirlwind of energy and enterprise. 

“Her passion, the thing she loved more than anything was being a nanny. 

“She once said that the most precious gift she’d ever been given in life is grandchildren.”

Mandy, who had two stepdaughters and four grandchildren, was also proud of her association with and support of the Bewdley Festival. 

Bewdley residents paid tribute to Mandy on social media, describing her as a "lovely" person and a "bundle of positive energy". 

A funeral service for Mandy will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, March 8 at St Leonard's Church, Ribbesford. 

Her wake will start at 3.15pm at St George's Hall.