FRIENDS and family have remembered a former Highworth mayor and multiple sclerosis sufferer who overcame the disease to famously walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

Brian Freeman died on February 6 aged 72 at his home in Turre, Spain, but he will be most fondly remembered for his time in the Highworth community.

He represented the town as its mayor in 2002, but hit headlines with this newspaper a year earlier when he conquered the pain of MS to walk his only daughter, Rachel, down the aisle.

Using the Odstock Dropped Foot Stimulator, a revolutionary electronic device at the time which sent impulses to the sufferer’s foot muscles, Brian was on his feet for much of the day.

Speaking to the Adver from her own Spanish home in Mojacar, where she runs cafe Manna Del Sielo, 36-year-old Rachel said: “It was just amazing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when we turned the corner in Holy Rood Church.

“He later stood at the table to give his speech and that whole day he sailed through.

“He was there until the end of the night too. It is one of the wonderful memories we have of him. His faith was such an inspiration to me.”

His faith is a recurring theme in the tributes paid to Brian, who was also a prominent member of Highworth Community Church before his departure for Turre in 2007.

Phil Baker, 66, of The Cullerns in Highworth, is a member of the church, and knew Brian from 1983 until his death. Brian had moved to the town with wife Margaret from Dartmouth with his work for British Gas.

“You never once heard him complain,” said Phil, who is retired but spent his life in the education sector.

“One of the great moments was his determination in walking his daughter down the aisle.

“That gave him the oomph to get himself up the aisle. For me that was one of the most awesome things that summed Brian up.

“As a man, despite his MS, he had absolute determination to keep going, really until the last two or three weeks of his life.”

Brian and Margaret followed Rachel, her husband David and their three grandchildren, Leo, nine, Isaac, seven, and Mia-Grace, two, to Spain to improve his quality of life with MS.

Before he left he had a year as mayor of the town, selected by his peers, after spending several years as a town councillor.

“He was very humbled to be asked to be mayor, but embraced the office and made a tremendous effort throughout the year to fulfil as many functions as he could,” said Phil.

Brian was also a prominent figure within Swindon Coalition for the Disabled and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

A service of thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 10.30am in Highworth Methodist Church, in Lechlade Road.