Tributes paid to former Stafford Borough Council leader Judith Dalgarno MBE
Tributes have been paid to former Stafford Borough Council leader and town mayor Judith Dalgarno MBE who has died.
The borough council flag on the Civic Centre in Stafford has been lowered as a mark of respect, after Alderman Dalgarno died on Friday, aged 81 years old following a lengthy illness.
Judith served as mayor in 1997 and led the authority for six years until 2009. She was a familiar face in Stafford, having run her family business, the Paper House, in the town centre for many years.
She was awarded an MBE for services to local government and to the community in 2009.
Judith represented the town's Weeping Cross area for more than 30 years. She was made an Honorary Alderman at a special council meeting in 2015.
Stafford Borough Council leader Patrick Farrington has led tributes to Alderman Dalgarno – saying he had learnt a lot from Judith, who gave him his first cabinet position on the council.
He said: “She was very well known as leader of Stafford Borough Council and a past mayor of the borough, and very popular in her ward at Weeping Cross.
“I was absolutely thrilled when in 2007, following the local elections, she invited me to join her cabinet and it was then that I really began to see what a real grasp she had on local issues, what people wanted and how adept she was at understanding the needs of our wider community.
“She would always tell me how people would go into her shop to talk about local politics and she would always listen and make a real effort to understand what people wanted. I have learned so much from her and the way that she ran things, and I owe her a lot."
He added: “I have also been very fortunate to meet her family and at this very sad time I wish to offer my sincere condolences and best wishes to her sons Martin and John and their families.”
“When we are able to return to some form of normality, I hope that we can more properly celebrate her life and the huge contribution she made to the Stafford Borough.”
