Tributes paid to Northampton 'Supergran' Ann Timson after death aged 85

Ann, who became a national hero after confronting a gang of sledgehammer-wielding jewellery thieves with nothing more than her handbag, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a period of declining health.

The lifelong Northampton resident shot to worldwide fame in 2011 after CCTV captured her charging at a gang attempting to rob Michael Jones Jeweller on Gold Street. The footage, which was filmed by chance by a documentary crew outside All Saints' Church, quickly went viral and earned Ann the nickname "Supergran".

She later received a Pride of Britain Award and a Queen's Commendation for Bravery from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

But to those who knew her best, her son Andre Dash said Ann's greatest legacy was not the extraordinary bravery she showed that day, but the quiet acts of kindness she carried out every day throughout her life.

Andre said: "My mum didn't just love Northampton – she was Northampton.

"She was the neighbour everybody turned to. If somebody had a problem, she'd put the kettle on, make a cup of tea and somehow make everything better.

"She helped people get homes because she knew how the system worked. She helped people through bereavements, through family problems and through whatever life threw at them.

"She was friends with everybody. She didn't have enemies. She connected people and she genuinely cared."

Born Judith Ann Brittain on January 24, 1941, Ann was born at home on Ryland Road while her father, Charles, was serving overseas during the Second World War.

She spent her entire life in Northampton, growing up before raising Andre as a single mother after his father left when he was just six months old.

Andre said: "She was a very hard-working single mum at a time when life wasn't easy.

"She worked three jobs to put food on the table. She would hand-sew clothes, walk instead of taking the bus to save money and somehow always found time to bake Christmas cakes and mince pies for neighbours.

"She just worked incredibly hard, but she never complained."

Later in life, Ann, who last lived in Semilong, worked as a home help and became heavily involved in community life, supporting residents and helping people navigate council services.

Andre said Northampton was at the heart of everything his mother did.

He said: "Northampton was a beautiful town to her. She loved the Market Square, the old cobbles, the shoe factories and the incredible sense of community the town had.

"She travelled to America, Australia and the Bahamas, but she never wanted to live anywhere else.

"Northampton was home. It was where her friends were and where her heart was."

Andre continued: "When Greyfriars bus station was demolished, she somehow managed to get hold of one of the huge 'Welcome to Northampton' signs.

"She lived in a tiny flat, but this enormous sign took up a whole wall. That's how much she loved Northampton.

"She loved this town with every fibre of her being and I don't think there'll ever be another person quite like her."

Although Ann became an international sensation following the Gold Street robbery, Andre said her actions that day came as no surprise.

Although Ann became an international sensation following the Gold Street robbery, Andre said the whirlwind that followed was unlike anything the family had ever experienced.

Andre said: "I actually found out from America.

"I got a phone call from a journalist in Los Angeles asking me what I thought about what my mum had done and I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

"I rang Mum and she was trapped inside her flat because there were photographers and television crews at the front and back of the building."

The attention quickly snowballed after Andre supplied a family photograph to a newspaper, leading to the nickname that would follow Ann for the rest of her life.

Andre said: "I sent them a picture of Mum holding my daughter Charlie when she was born because she didn't have social media.

"The next thing we knew she was 'Supergran'.

"I flew straight back to England because there were around 40 photographers camped outside and reporters were knocking on neighbours' doors trying to find out everything they could about her."

Within weeks, Ann was appearing on television across the world.

Andre said: "She was on the Today Show in America, appeared on television in Australia, Brazil and Germany, and we even travelled to Hamburg so she could appear on a TV programme there.

"It was extraordinary because my mum was just an ordinary Northampton lady who'd gone out shopping."

Asked for his thoughts on his mum’s actions, he said: "The first thing I thought when I saw the footage was that it was obviously my mum because of the bright red hair and bright red coat.

"What didn't surprise me was that she ran towards danger.

"She thought a child was being attacked, which is why she ran across the road waving her handbag. It wasn't until she got there that she realised it was a jewellery robbery.

"What surprised me was that she wasn't seriously hurt."

Despite the passing of 15 years since the robbery, Ann remained close to staff at Michael Jones Jeweller, regularly dropping in homemade Christmas cakes and mince pies.

He said: "They were wonderful to her over the years.

"My mum used to take them cakes every Christmas and they've stayed in touch ever since.

"They'll be coming to her funeral, which means a great deal to our family."

Ann died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by loved ones.

Her funeral will take place at Northampton Crematorium on Wednesday, July 29, at 11.30am.

In keeping with her personality, mourners are being encouraged to wear bright colours rather than black.

Andre said: "She loved colour and she wanted people celebrating her life, not mourning it.

"Anyone who knew her is welcome to come along. That's exactly what she would've wanted.”