Category Archives: Obituaries

Open Thread: Tributes to Liberal Democrats who have passed away this year

By Caron Lindsay | Published 28th December 2011 - 3:54 pm

This is the time of year when we look back at what the last 12 months have brought us, good and bad.

I thought it would be appropriate to take some time to pay tribute to Liberal Democrats we’ve lost this year. We’ll all know someone who has really made the difference to our lives as party members who is no longer with us. Please feel free to use the comments to tell us a bit about them and what they mean to you.

For me, the worst moment of the year so far was not the heartbreaking election results. It was …

Tagged 2011, andrew reeves | 2 Comments

Tributes to David Griffiths

By Helen Duffett | Published 12th September 2011 - 11:53 am

Nick Clegg has paid tribute to David Griffiths, former Chair of the Liberal Democrat Federal Finance Committee, Treasurer of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, who died earlier this month:

David Griffiths who had served the Liberal Democrats loyally over the years passed away aged 70 on the 3rd September 2011.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the many years of dedicated service David gave to the party. His many varied roles included being Chair of the Liberal Democrat Federal Finance and Administration Committee and Treasurer of Liberal International a role which reflected

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Tagged david griffiths, eldr, ffac, liberal international, nick clegg, sharon bowles | 5 Comments

Liz Rorison passes away

By Laura Willoughby | Published 4th July 2011 - 9:10 am

As many of you know, our dear friend and colleague, Liz Rorison succumbed to a short illness on the 24th of June.

Music was such an important part of Liz’s life it is no surprise that she is fondly remembered for giving melody to the party’s liberal enthusiasm at the annual Glee Club. Nearly everyone shares the memory of her at the piano playing with huge energy and with a great big smile on her face as Ralph Bancroft led the party faithful in a rendition of The Land.

She first played the piano at an informal singing gathering at the Scarborough …

Tagged liz rorison | 6 Comments

Paul Holmes writes: In memory of Asad Shafi Qazi

By Paul Holmes | Published 7th June 2011 - 10:21 am

Nicky Qazi, a good personal friend and political colleague, died in hospital last week aged 82. Nicky was one of those unsung heroes of the Liberal Democrats who give over a large part of their life to voluntarily pounding the streets, campaigning to spread the cause they believe in however unfashionable it may be at times.

I joined the SDP wing of the Alliance in Chesterfield in 1983 and soon got to know and admire Nicky a near neighbour who had joined the Liberal Party a few years earlier. He had a shrewd intelligence, a quiet but devastating sense of humour and was unfailingly polite and patient. I don’t think I ever saw him lose his temper although, always in private and never with rancour, he could certainly succinctly and with a sad air make clear his view of the occasional antics of some of our own colleagues let alone the opposition.

Tagged chesterfield, nicky qazi | 2 Comments

Andrew Reeves passes away

By Mark Pack | Published 3rd June 2011 - 11:00 am

Many Liberal Democrats are in mourning this morning after the sudden death of a long-time colleague and friend, Andrew Reeves. He died of a heart attack last night.

Andrew had a long career in the party, including working for Vince Cable in Twickenham and Lynne Featherstone in Hornsey & Wood Green and stewarding at party conferences, before becoming the party’s Deputy Director for Scotland. Andrew was always one of the happiest and kindest people on the campaigns I worked with him on, and never let the occasional inevitable moments of stress or tension sour personal friendships. He had also in recent …

Also posted in Scotland | Tagged andrew reeves | 38 Comments

Elizabeth Sidney passes away

By Julie Horten | Published 30th April 2011 - 4:55 pm

Elizabeth Sidney OBE (née Mudford) died on Saturday 16th April aged 87. She was an inspirational figure for many Liberal Democrats and for many women across the world.

Elizabeth possessed a stellar intellect. She was also elegant, charming, great fun and always optimistic. She believed in the imagination and ingenuity of the human race, particularly the female half of it, and was always hugely annoyed when women were described as ‘minorities’. Elizabeth recently joined the Humanist Association and will have a Green, Humanist funeral.

Elizabeth was awarded a scholarship to Oxford at 16, she completed her English degree in …

2 Comments

Aberdeen Council “Giant” Ron Clark passes away

By Helen Duffett | Published 21st February 2011 - 7:03 pm

The Aberdeen Press and Journal has the sad news:

A veteran Aberdeen councillor, described as a “giant” of the community by colleagues, has died.

Ron Clark, Liberal Democrat member for Dyce, Bucksburn and Danestone, died last night after being admitted to hospital earlier in the week.

Mr Clark, who was in his mid-70s, marked 30 years of public service last year.

His council colleagues paid tribute to a hard-working character who had dedicated himself to serving his local community.

Last night Liberal Democrat council leader John Stewart said: “Ron has been a great servant for the people of Dyce for many, many years. Last

…

Tagged aberdeen, dyce bucksburn and danestone, ron clark | Leave a comment

Long-serving West Berkshire Councillor Keith Lock passes away

By Helen Duffett | Published 14th February 2011 - 1:08 pm

Liberal Democrat Councillor Keith Lock, who represented Mortimer Ward in West Berkshire, died on Saturday night in hospital in Reading, having broken his hip a few weeks ago.

Keith had been a Councillor for West Berkshire and the predecessor Newbury District Council for 38 years. During that time he had twice held the positions of Leader and Chairman of Council.

The Reading Chronicle reports:

The Lib Dem councillor, who was born in Welling, Kent, moved to Mortimer in 1969 and sat on West Berkshire Council from its formation in 1998, having also served on its predecessor, Newbury District Council, since it was

…

Tagged jeff brooks, keith lock, west berkshire council | 3 Comments

Rachel Smith RIP

By Sara Bedford | Published 3rd January 2011 - 9:04 am

Rachel Smith first came into my life last year, through the medium of Twitter, where she tweeted as @rachelolgeirsso. Witty and intelligent, Rachel readily engaged others in conversations about politics, life and popular culture. Although we were both active Lib Dems, we’d be as likely to exchange comments about The Apprentice or Strictly Come Dancing as about the coalition or political policies.

Rachel had been an active tweeter through the general election and the formation of the coalition, strong about the Lib Dems place in government and scathing as to what she saw as Labour’s opportunism and hypocrisy, especially where it related to her own constituency of Sheffield Hallam and her MP, the Deputy Prime Minister. So it was no surprise when in July she started blogging. The reason for this soon became clear: Rachel was looking for a distraction whilst she was in hospital, undergoing chemotherapy for leukaemia.

Also posted in News | Tagged rachel smith | 10 Comments

Simon Hughes pays tribute to Claire Rayner

By Helen Duffett | Published 12th October 2010 - 12:43 pm

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes has paid tribute to Claire Rayner, the NHS campaigner, agony aunt and Liberal Democrat member who died yesterday:

Claire Rayner was a wonderful, no-nonsense, agony aunt to the nation, but also she was much more than that.

Claire’s campaigning was an inspiration to millions and especially to Liberal Democrats, who were so proud that she was a member of our party.

Continuous work and campaigning to improve our National Health Service for all our patients will be the best sort of tribute our country can give her.

Tagged claire rayner, simon hughes | 3 Comments

Tributes pour in for Sir Cyril Smith

By Stephen Tall | Published 4th September 2010 - 12:13 pm

Lib Dem Voice reported yesterday the sad passing of Sir Cyril Smith, one of the party’s best-known figures, who served as Rochdale’s MP for two decades.

Tributes have been pouring in as a mark of appreciation for Cyril’s life. Nick Clegg issued the following statement:

“Cyril Smith was a larger-than-life character and one of the most recognisable and likeable politicians of his day. I am deeply saddened to hear the news of his death today, and offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

“Everybody in Rochdale knew him not only as their MP but also as a friend. He

…

Tagged chris rennard, cyril smith, nick clegg, tim farron | 3 Comments

RIP Cyril Smith

By The Voice | Published 3rd September 2010 - 1:22 pm

News has just reached the Voice that Sir Cyril Smith, for 20 years Liberal (then Liberal Democrat) MP for Rochdale, has just passed away.

Just over two years agho, Lib Dem Voice published an appreciation of Cyril’s life to mark his 80th birthday:

You’ve got to come to Rochdale to understand properly Sir Cyril’s popularity. He doesn’t get out much these days, but when he does… Rochdale comes to a standstill. Many people remember the Cyril from the 1970s and early ’80s. The Cyril who was Chief Whip during the Jeremy Thorpe scandal; the Cyril who appeared on national TV alongside

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Tagged cyril smith | 10 Comments

Donna Boffa RIP

By The Voice | Published 19th March 2010 - 6:10 pm

Sad news has reached us here at Lib Dem Voice that Islington Councillor Donna Boffa died today after a long illness.

From the Islington Tribune:

Cllr Boffa, 43, was first elected to represent Bunhill ward in 2003, in a by-election following the death of Lib Dem Cllr Rose Wooding. She leaves behind five children.

Islington Council leader Lib Dem Cllr Terry Stacy said: “Donna was a fighter right through to the end. From the day she was elected a councillor, Donna never forgot where she came from or who she was there to represent. Donna was all about helping the people without

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Tagged donna boffa, islington council, terry stacy | Leave a comment

Chris Clarke: an appreciation

By Chris White | Published 3rd February 2010 - 11:20 am

This week sees the memorial service for Chris Clarke, former leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group

He was always Chris. Even when he gained a knighthood in 2005, he was just very occasionally Sir Chris. No pomposity there.

I came across Chris first of all as Leader of Somerset County Council and thus someone from one of our most successful counties and regions. He was larger than life at the Local Government Association even before he was successfully elected as Leader of its Liberal Democrat Group.

He gave clarity to the Liberal Democrat push within that organisation but also made it clear …

Also posted in Local government | Tagged chris clarke | 2 Comments

Times obituary of Anna Werrin

By The Voice | Published 6th January 2010 - 7:30 pm

We reported last month the sad death of Anna Werrin, the highly influential personal assistant to Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy throughout his Parliamentary career until his resignation as party leader.

Today’s Times publishes an obituary of Anna in its Lives in Brief section:

Anna Werrin, personal assistant to Charles Kennedy, was born on June 14, 1959. She died after a stroke on December 18, 2009, aged 50

Anna Werrin was the personal assistant to Charles Kennedy, and throughout his leadership of the Liberal Democrats she was his principal aide, head of office and, effectively, his gatekeeper — and

…

Tagged anna werrin | Leave a comment

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