Former Shrewsbury mayor Eileen Sandford dies, 88
Friday 6th May 2011, 2:12PM BST.
Former Mayor of Shrewsbury Eileen Sandford has died in hospital, her family said today.
Mrs Sandford, 88, who was made an MBE by the Queen in 2004, had recently been diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer.
Tributes were paid today to the former nurse who spent years living in Africa with her late husband Hugh and their family before moving back to the UK and later settling in Shropshire where she devoted her life towards serving the public.
She was granted the title of the Mayor of Shrewsbury and Atcham in 2003.
During her year in office, when she was aged 80, she is fondly remembered for taking part in a number of energetic stunts for charity including abseiling down the 120ft Lord Hill’s Column in Shrewsbury and a water-skiing.
Mrs Sandford represented the Harlescott ward for many years as both a Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Councillor and Shropshire County Council member.
Mrs Sandford’s daughter Helen Sandford said her mother died yesterday morning at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Councillor Peter Nutting, a former colleague of Mrs Sandford, said she would be sadly missed.
He said: “Eileen was a wonderful servant to Shrewsbury and the Harlescott area in particular and she will be sadly missed. Even though she was not a councillor any more she still did a lot for people there and it’s very sad news.”
Last year Mrs Sandford published her autobiography, Come on Eileen, on her eventful life.
l Tributes — See Page 8
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A formidable lady, who will be greatly missed by all, particularly her former colleagues.
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Truly one of a kind the likes of whom we will never be seen again. Thoughts are with Eileens family at this sad time.
RIP Eileen.
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Eileen was a machine. Hardy old bird who put her heart and sole in to what she did.
Truely Old School, “Get things done” Mentality. They dont make them like her anymore.
Love her or loathe her there is no denying how hard she worked. she will be greatly missed around Shrewsbury
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A wonderful woman who did so much for so many, some may well disagree, but that means they don’t know the half of what this woman has achieved in her life.
We will sorely miss her banging on the door and giving as good as she gets :)
Best wishes and prayers to the family at this very difficult time.
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She was a lovely women and helped many people out includeing ourselfs , We will always remenber her for her got get them attuide ….. a job was never left undone , Our harts go out to close friends and family we are moved by this wounderful women R.I.P
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What an astonishing paragraph.Talk about English as a foreign language . . .
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I understood that she had never completed her nurse training.
I disagreed with her politics when she came around electioneering many years ago but she quite readily conceded that she felt Mrs Thatcher had done little for the support of family life.
I really admired her work for young people/adults and children,the former an undervalued asset to our town and her impressive feats in sport such as her swimming,abseiling etc.
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Eileen,
You have been an inspiration, a fine example, and a truly wonderful person. You will be greatly missed, admired and remembered with fondness.
My thoughts and wishes to the family
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I would certainly raise my hat(and a glass) to such a public spirited person.
Long gone are the days when people took on these minor political roles for the common good in preference to what can I get out of it?
Just look at your local councillor and then judge them against this lady.
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I don’t live in Shrewsbury but, on the occasions that I saw her in action it was quite clear that she had a strong sense of duty, was fearless in pursuing what she believed was right, and didn’t stand for any nonsense. We are the poorer for her loss and our sympathy goes out to all her family.
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A fantastic woman that did so much for me and helped me through a lot of problems. Im so honoured to have met her. R.I.P Eileen
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r.i.p Eileen Sandford you dedicated alot of time n effort to achieve alot on the harlescott estates. you will be missed by alot of people. you did so much, for so many. i always respected you when you came calling n give time to talk to you. i will miss you loads, god be with you sllep tight xxxxxxxxhonoured to have known you R.I.P xxxxxxx
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Although I am not a shrewsbury resident, She was an excellent Councillor who made an excellent contribution to politics in Shrewsbury and from what I understand helped ALL of her constituents no matter what banner they stood under .
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If it wasn’t for Eileen I would have never been a councillor. She knocked my door when I was 15 and asked if I would help her with the election. I did and this is when Eileen was first elected for the Grange ward. Since that day she has never stopped working for the community and she helped my own family when they had problems too. I will never forget Eileen, one of lifes great people. It did not matter how you voted it was the person that counted, not the party.
Our thoughts are with Helen and family at this sad time.
Read more: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/05/06/former-shrewsbury-mayor-eileen-sandford-dies-88/#ixzz1LfaphuKF
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Now I wonder who will motivate me onto manning the booths. A great lady and will be missed for her spirit and her hard work which she did willingly.
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Eileen worked hard for others, was the voice of those who had no voice, and put her Christian faith into action. The world was a better place for her being in it and she will be missed by many. Our prayers are with her family. May she rest in peace.
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I met Eileen on numerous occasions, a formidable lady who got things done.
When she said jump, you asked how high.
I doubt we will ever se someone so pro active on our council again, God Bless, rest in peace Eileen, you did your bit for us.
Steven and the little Oliver you said you would never forget.
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She was a good strong battle axe she always got things done nothing was to difficult and no one dared stand in her way “the old school” “the best” councillours like her are few and far you will be greatly missed I will always remember when she asked me to sign up and help, well i’ve never looked back!. three cheers eileen rest in peace R.I.P.tony.
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A wonderful woman. Irreplaceable.
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knowing eileen she’s probebly keeping heaven in order now, god’s right hand woman, amen, i do hope some lasting memorial will be erected in her memory for all the tierless hours and hard work she put in to the harlscott and surronding areas.
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a true saint who put her christian belief into practice. by the way do you believe jesus died and rose again for your breaking of god’s law (sin) ???? will you repent and by faith receive jesus by faith as your saviour and lord.????
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Living in Germany now I have only found out about this news today. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. I knew Eileen through RAFA. I served as RAFA Liaison Officer for RAF Shawbury for a number of years and grew fond of Eileen at branch meetings. She always had something to say and was a delight to talk to. I am sure that all her colleagues in the local Shrewsbury RAFA branch will miss her passing with great sadness. My thoughts are also with the Shrewsbury RAFA Branch and their RAFALO team.
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