Mr Mayor, fellow Councillors,

In rising to speak in her memory, I am aware that many members will have had very little contact with Betty Howell. She rarely spoke at full Council, and her intermittent health problems restricted her attendance at meetings. So it is good to be able to pay tribute to her in this place, because it was in this chamber, this building, that Betty’s career in local government began and flourished. It was not a career that she expected, or sought for herself.

When Betty was widowed in the late 90's, she wanted an activity that would get her out of her house. And I may confirm the worst prejudices of some members about entertainment options in Crewe when I tell you that Betty started coming to Liberal Democrat meetings. Recruitment to our “Focus” newsletter delivery team followed almost immediately.

1999, like this year, saw ward boundary changes in Crewe & Nantwich. Liberal Democrats hoped to build on our success the previous year in winning a seat in the 3 member St John’s Ward. Our newest councillor was our first candidate. I was the second because my home was in the ward and the seat I held previously was abolished by the boundary changes. We persuaded Betty to be the third candidate and it was an inspired choice. At that time she lived outside the ward but for many years she had taught at Kings Grove school, one of the two secondary schools in the area.

The subsequent election campaign, in which Betty defeated two sitting councillors, showed what enormous respect and affection she had built up during her time at the school. Respect and affection evident on the doorstep from former pupils, parents of former pupils, grandparents of former pupils. Respect and affection all the more remarkable in that Betty had taught not some cushy subject, but Maths and Physics!

My guess is that Betty had played a big part in helping the school make the transition from the Girls Grammar School to a mixed comprehensive. It was good that soon after her election she was able to play a significant part in the successful campaign to keep the school open when Cheshire County Council wanted to close it. Betty took easily to case work. She also quickly developed an interest in Planning when she was appointed to that Committee. Perhaps her skills in dealing with unruly pupils transferred to dealing with recalcitrant council officers.

But if so, I don’t think she made any enemies though she did get results. Betty won two further elections to Crewe & Nantwich, in 2000 and 2004.

Then came 2008 and Local Government reorganisation in Cheshire. Betty had doubts about standing for the new Council, and I don’t think that she ever felt altogether comfortable as a member of Cheshire East. But she did decide to contest the Crewe South ward on its new boundaries this year, and was enthusiastic in planning with me a joint election campaign across the Crewe South and Crewe West wards.

I very much regret that my hopes of building on this in the future will not now be realised. But a balancing fear is also removed. When Betty was taken into hospital in the week that nominations closed, she might have decided to withdraw her nomination. In any case we cannot know whether she would have been re-elected. She could so easily have entered a twilight period, restricted in her movements, cut off from former colleagues and from the case work calls that she relished. It is better that she died in harness and is spared a possible lonely future. My memories are of a good friend and most effective and co-operative colleague. I hope that we will all honour the memory of a lady who exemplifies disinterested service in local government. 

Thank you, Mr Mayor.