Tag Archives: deaths

Caron Lindsay

Party legend Vera Head dies at 97

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 21st January 2026 - 11:18 am

The sad news that party legend Vera Head had died came via Candy Piercy on Facebook:

Sad news. The redoubtable Vera Head died last week at the age of 97 after a long illness.

Long time campaigners and members of Lib Dem Women will remember her dedication to Women’s Rights and to getting women elected.

Vera taught me so much as an agent. And I still quote her in training sessions today.

When I was a Campaigns Officer in 1992 I asked Vera to agent Liz Lynne in Rochdale. I could not think of anyone else who would stand up to Cyril Smith and make sure Liz won her seat. And of course Vera delivered a famous victory.

Again in 1997 I asked Vera to be the agent for Jackie Ballard in Taunton. Again Vera pulled the campaign together and Jackie was elected. Another great win.

There are so many stories about Vera. We will put them all together soon. But to end on, until this May Vera was a councillor on Amershsm Town Council.

Still enjoying scaring the living daylights out of the local Tories as one of the oldest councillors in the country!

Oh, and scaring a few Lib Dems along the way too!

A fierce friend and a ferocious political adversary. And I suspect you are now giving St Peter a hard time about his organisation of Heaven!

Vera, we shall miss you. RIP.

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Caron Lindsay

Michael Steed 1940-2023

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 3rd September 2023 - 9:08 pm

Sad news dropped into my inbox this afternoon. Michael Steed, President of the Liberal Party from 1978-79, died this week.

From Young Liberal anti-apartheid activist who was once prevented by the South African authorities from delivering aid to Sharpeville to eminent psephologist who provided the stats for the British General Election Guides up until 2005 to radical social liberal who was ardently pro-European but not blind to dangers of concentrated power in the way the EU worked, he spent his whole life working for liberalism, and was elected as a councillor in Canterbury in 2008.

He was also one of those brave liberals who fought for gay rights well before it was fashionable to do so. He helped fight the early battles that won the freedoms we take for granted now.

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Caron Lindsay

Moore and Rennie’s tributes to former Scots Tory leader David McLetchie

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 13th August 2013 - 3:40 pm

Michael Moore and Willie Rennie have both paid tribute to the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, David McLetchie, who died yesterday at the age of 61.

I never met him, but I know that he had a reputation as a generally easy-going, decent bloke, kind and very funny. Mandy Rhodes of Holyrood magazine has written a very personal and moving appreciation here.

In tribute, Willie Rennie said:

A towering figure if this new Scottish parliamentary age, David will forever be regarded as a public servant who made a difference.  Whether as party leader or foot soldier he commanded immediate respect and

…

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