IT WAS a magical tribute to a great mayor as Sandra Barnett led the Old Town Festival Parade dedicated to her beloved husband Rex.

Sandra was holding back tears as people lined the streets of Old Town to pay their respects to the former mayor who died of mesothelioma last week.

Sandra and daughters Sarah and Alison led the procession in a vintage car, and many applauded as they went past to show their appreciation of a man who had an impact on so many lives.

Sandra said: “I must admit when I was first asked I didn’t know what to do because I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing for me to be doing so close to Rex’s death.

“Then I thought what would Rex have done and he never refused an invitation.

“I know he would have wanted me to do it – he was such a great supporter of the parade and the festival.

“He would have been so proud to have been there today and he would have been so proud that I went along with my daughters.”

Since the announcement of Rex’s death late on Tuesday, Sandra has been inundated with messages of condolences from people all over the town.

“It has just been non-stop cards, flowers and messages of support, it has been overwhelming,” she said.

“I have talked it through with my daughters and we just feel so proud to think that he has made such a difference to so many people as well as our own lives.

“I knew that he was a good mayor, I knew all the things we had done, but I never really appreciated just how much everybody thought of him.

“He has had such an impact on so many people from all over Swindon, all the different communities, all age ranges.

“It just shows how he could engage with anybody he met.”

Following the parade, a minute’s applause was held to remember Rex, a gesture that Sandra said was a lot more fitting to Rex’s personality than a silence.

Trevor Smith, chairman of the festival, said: “It was great that we could have Sandra leading the procession. So many people turned out to pay their respects and I saw many applauding which was nice.

“Rex was a great supporter not only of this event but also of Swindon and that it why it has been nice to be able to dedicate the parade to him.”

Robert Buckland, MP for Swindon South, also paid tribute to Rex.

He said: “Knowing Rex, there would have been one word he would have used to describe today and that would have been magical.

“Rex was a great supporter of the Old Town Festival and it is so nice to see so many people supporting him.”

A book of remembrance in memory of Rex is now open in the Haydon Centre at reception, and it will remain there for a week.

A celebration of Rex’s life will be held at St Mary's Church, Rodbourne Cheney, on Tuesday, June 25, at 1pm.