 Councillors and staff at
Suffolk County Council have expressed their sadness following
the death of their Chairman, Councillor Ann Rodwell, who
passed away at 9.00am on Friday 7 November 2008 following a
long battle against cancer.
Ann served as a Conservative county councillor for just over 24
years. She was elected in 1977 to represent the Colneis Division
which comprised the villages around Felixstowe, including Trimley
St. Mary where she lived, and remained a county councillor until
1997.
Following a brief move away from Suffolk at the end of the 1990s,
Ann returned to Felixstowe and, in 2004, she was elected to
represent the Felixstowe Ferry Division in a by-election. She held
the seat in 2005 when it became Felixstowe Coastal Division.
During her lengthy service, Ann served on a number of committees.
She was Chairman of the Libraries, Museums and Amenities Committee
for seven years and also chaired the Social Services Committee,
Standards Committee, Disciplinary and Grievance Committee and
Development Control Committee.
Her dedicated service to the local community also included long
spells as a governor of local schools. She was Chairman of
Governors of Trimley St. Mary Primary School for 30 years and of
Orwell High School in Felixstowe for 11 years.
As well as serving on the county council, Ann’s political career
included four years’ service on Suffolk Coastal District Council
from 2003. She was Mayor of Felixstowe in 2006/7, having been
elected to the Town Council in 2003.
Ann and her husband, Gordon, were partners in a Funeral Directors
company in Felixstowe until the late 1980s. Ann then managed a
branch of a national limousine hire company until her retirement in
1991.
Ann is survived by her husband, two children and four
grandchildren.
A service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the life of Ann
Rodwell will be held at the Parish Church of St. John The Baptist,
Orwell Road, Felixstowe, on Friday 21 November 2008 at 2.00pm.
Messages of condolence
Books of Condolence are available at:
Felixstowe Library
Crescent Road
Felixstowe |
Reception, Suffolk County Council
Endeavour House
Russell Road
Ipswich |
There will also be a facility for paying tribute at Felixstowe
Town Hall.
Alternatively, you can send your messages and tributes online:
Online messages of condolence for Councillor Ann Rodwell
|
Tribute to Ann Rodwell |
Ann was a warm and very popular member of the
Conservative Group at County Hall. We admired, above all, her
indomitable courage and her refusal to give in - she never once
shirked her responsibilities as Chairman of the Council during her
illness.
Our thoughts and condolences must now be with her family. |
|
From: |
Councillor Jeremy Pembroke, Leader of Suffolk
County Council and Conservative Group
Leader |
|
Tribute to Ann Rodwell |
| Everyone who knew Ann will miss her terribly. She
was one of those special people who commanded respect and affection
from all sides of politics. Her courage in all she stood for was
never better displayed than in the way she played her final role as
Chairman of the County Council, dedicated to her duties and
uncomplaining of her illness. She will be a big loss to public
life. |
|
From: |
Councillor Charles Michell, Vice-Chairman, Suffolk
County Council |
|
Tribute to Ann Rodwell |
With the death of Ann Rodwell, we have lost a
councillor with a distinctive presence who was a champion for her
corner of Suffolk. Like many councillors, her reputation grew from
a wide range of enthusiasms and activities, from playing in a rock
and roll band to leading her community in the highest civic
offices.
We will miss her in the council chamber and the meetings of
Endeavour House, and send our condolences to Gordon and her
family. |
|
From: |
Councillor Julian Swainson, Leader of the Labour
Group |
|
Tribute to Ann Rodwell |
Ann has been a faithful servant to the people of
Suffolk for more than two decades. I would like to pay tribute to
her selfless dedication and to the determination and courage with
which she fought her illness. We all knew that Ann's time was
limited, but had hoped that she could finish her year as County
Council Chairman.
On behalf of my group and myself, I send my sincere condolences to
her family. |
|
From: |
Councillor Kathy Pollard, Leader of the
Liberal-Democrat Group |
|
A Tribute to Ann Rodwell, Chairman of Suffolk
County Council |
| Ann's commitment to continue to represent the
residents of Felixstowe and as Chairman, to act as ambassador for
all the people of Suffolk during her illness was a real
inspiration. Her courage throughout her illness and the importance
she placed on her public duties is a testament to her civic
leadership and personal integrity. She was the very essence of a
public servant. We will miss her. |
|
From: |
Andrea Hill, Chief Executive of Suffolk County
Council |
|
A Tribute to Councillor Ann
Rodwell |
For the past 3 1/2 years, Ann has been my 'partner'
Councillor for the Felixstowe Coastal Division. Not only did she
give me - a 'fresher' - loads of advice whilst we contested the May
2005 election, but she also continued to nurture me and 'show me
the ropes' once we had been elected.
Felixstowe has today lost one of its most stalwart, well known and
best loved elected representatives. She has helped literally
thousands of Felixstowe and Trimley people in their dealings with
Councils over the years, and has been instrumental in many of the
improved services, facilities and infrastructure we have in the
town today.
I don't think I've ever met anyone suffering from a terminal
illness who has continued their work with quite the same
selflessness, commitment and bravery as Ann has over the past three
years: a true example to us all.
Thanks Ann, and God Bless. Our hearts go out to Gordon and all your
family. |
|
From: |
Councillor Graham Newman |
|
Tribute to Ann Rodwell |
| We have known Ann and Gordon for many years and she
will be sadly missed. |
|
From: |
Clive and Joan Caton |
|
Strength and Courage |
I only worked closely with you Ann since May this
year. From that moment, I had complete respect for you both in your
new role as Chairman, and in the manner with which you dealt with
your illness. You never let it affect your commitment to your duty
and again, for that, it is commendable.
I will miss our little Member/Officer chats and will always
remember how you respected my position and always made me feel very
welcome in your company. May God bless you. |
|
From: |
Colin Sweeney |
|
Ann |
| Ann your battle is over but your indomitable spirit
has been, and will always be, an example to us all who knew
you. |
|
From: |
Wendy Mawer and John |
|
Ann Rodwell |
| Very sad at her passing away, I always found Ann to
be understanding, kind and considerate of others and her courage
was an example to all. Regret away at the time of the
memorial service. |
|
From: |
Richard Kemp |
|
Ann |
| I worked closely with Ann when she was Chairman of
the Development Control Committee. She was very supportive of
me and extremely enthusiastic about the role of the Committee and
the decisions it took. She was adamant that the Committee should be
the best it could be and initiated a really robust training
programme which committee members missed at their peril! I
also think she was looking for a place in the Guinness Book of
Records for the shortest Committee meeting as she Chaired the
meetings with gusto, but always in an even handed and fair
manner. I shall always remember her fortitude, even when she
knew that she was very ill. She never missed a site
inspection even though these could be physically very
arduous. She was a kind and supportive person: an
example to us all. |
|
From: |
David Palk |
|
To a fellow fighter |
| Ann worked hard and well. I am very sorry to
read of her death. Very best wishes to Gordon and
family. |
|
From: |
Candida Kirby (Snow); former CC
Colneis |
|
Message of Condolence to Ann's
Family |
| I was very sad to hear of Ann's passing. She
always struck me as a woman of great integrity and spirit and I was
both inspired and awed by the strength and courage she showed
during her illness. I am sure that strength and courage will
see you, her loved ones, through this sad loss. Suffolk, and
Felixstowe in particular, has lost one of its dearest citizens, one
who has done much to make a difference to all our lives. With
deepest sympathy, |
|
From: |
Gulshan Kayembe |
|
Remembering Ann |
| This is the end of an era for the staff at
Felixstowe Library. We know libraries held a special place in
Ann's heart and we will especially miss her unwavering
support. Our thoughts are with Gordon and the
family. |
|
From: |
The staff of Felixstowe
Library |
|
Tribute to Ann Rodwell |
Ann served on the County Council's Arts and
Libraries Committee and its predecessor bodies from 1981 to
1993. She served as its chairman from June 1985 until March
1992. She was a dedicated chairman and a great supporter of
the Suffolk record office, the library services, museums and the
arts. During Ann's chairmanship, a new branch of the record
office opened in Lowestoft, and a state of the art new record
office was built in Ipswich. She also oversaw the development
of new libraries in Stowmarket, Haverhill, Hadleigh and
Clare. She was particularly associated with opening the
Information Centre and Shop in St Helen Street Ipswich, at the
front of County Hall. Its name Suffolk Connexions long
preceded the development of the national Connexions services.
As a local county councillor and Mayor of Felixstowe, Ann opened
the refurbished Felixstowe library in 2006. Even then she was
ill, and we so admired her courage and the way she kept working so
hard. She was held in great esteem by staff who knew her and
she will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to her
husband Gordon their family. |
|
From: |
Guenever Pachent |
|
Full of admiration and respect
... |
I first met Ann when she was re-elected to Suffolk
County Council in 2004. She was always warm and kind and had
a deep sense of public duty.
Right up to her death she was still performing her public duties as
Chairman of Suffolk County Council. As ever, she was gracious
with other people and always mindful of others.
I remember her with a certain amount of awe - a person the like of
which we do not meet often. I was full of admiration of her
and had a deep respect for her.
She will be missed by many ... |
|
From: |
Jane Storey |
|
In Memory of Ann |
| Ann's warmth and humour and her commitment to
public sevice made it a pleasure to work with her. Her
courage throughout her illness and the way she dealt with the
challenges and setbacks will continue to inspire me. |
|
From: |
Mary Clancy |
|
Farewell Ann |
| I never had the pleasure of meeting Ann, but from
reading the other notes of sympathy I can see how well liked
she was and what a good public servant she has been to
Suffolk. My heart goes out to her family in this trying time
and I hope they are comforted by the good times they shared
together. Goodbye Ann and thank you. |
|
From: |
Cllr Iain Frost |
|
| |