By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Emotional tributes have been paid to an “excellent, kind and diligent” former councillor Helen Molyneux who “excelled helping care homes during the coronavirus pandemic”.
The former Independent and Conservative councillor for Tidenham has died at the age of 82.
The Forest of Dean District Council held a minute’s silence in her honour on July 24 before Independent group leader Philip Burford (I, Hartpury and Redmarley) led the tributes to the “great” councillor.
Mrs Molyneux, who was previously a Conservative, was a member of his group on the council.
“She was a wonderful example to us all about what being a councillor is all about,” he said.
“She was absolutely passionate about the people that she was working for, and that wasn’t only within her own ward.”
He said that during the coronavirus pandemic “when the council was floundering about”, then Councillor Molyneux was checking all the care homes and elderly residential places were OK across the Forest district.
“She was the old folks champion of the district,” he said.
“She was absolutely passionate about the things she did.
“Helen had a knack, she had an intoxicating little Welsh accent and she had the absolute ability to make the most incisive of comments in the most unoffensive of ways.
“She was a great person, a great personality, a great lady, an excellent councillor, and she’ll be sadly missed and.
“All our condolences go out to her family, and particularly the members of her family that we know, Patrick, who has of course been here for many years.”
Conservative Councillor Nick Evans (Tidenham) said she put him at ease when he first became a parish councillor in Tidenham.
And said she was a fantastic advocate for the community.
“She also did a great deal of work for the aged in the Forest as well, and did a really fantastic amount of work trying to raise money for charity but also making sure that they were operating as well as they possibly could.
“Helen always had a smile on her face, whenever you would talk to her, she was absolutely lovely.
“I remember my first parish council meeting and she sort of welcomed me and showed me exactly where I needed to sit and what I needed to do.
“That was really indicative of just how much of a good and genuine person Helen was, her intent was always good and she’d always sort of cut through with some incisive common sense.
“She also had this incredible knack of getting you to do what she wanted in the first instance.”
Former council leader Tim Gwilliam (Progressive Independents, Berry Hil) said he first got to know her during the coronavirus pandemic.
He said when it became clear that some of our care homes were struggling, she was diligent in giving him updates.
“She called every care home in the Forest checking that they had the right personal protective equipment, checking that they were being treated correctly.
“That will stay with me forever because she did it every week. If she missed me on a Friday night, she would phone on a Saturday morning with an update.
“She showed me nothing but kindness. She was a really good councillor, but she was a much better person.”
Councillor Gill Moseley (LD, Newent and Taynton) said she remembers Mrs Molyneux gave her the warmest of welcomes when she first became a councillor.
“I do remember that humanity that she expressed. I’d just like to say how very sorry I am about her passing and to express my condolences too..”
And Green Councillor Christopher McFarling (G, St Briavels) said she was a voice of sanity, a wise and compassionate person who served her community as well as the council.
“I joined her on a couple of occasions when she helped serve hot meals to senior citizens in her role as their member champion.
“During the pandemic, she excelled. In our conversations, party politics never came up.
“She was a good councillor, an honest councillor and a friend. She made a real difference to the community she served, and we send our deepest consolation to her family and friends.”
Chairman Di Martin (L, Cindeford East) reiterated these comments and said she was an amazing councillor.
“Her humanity, her kindness and caring persona will stay with me, and I will definitely be representing the council at her funeral.”
Former Conservative council leader Patrick Molyneux said after the meeting his family was touched by the tributes.
“The entire family were very moved by some of the things that were said last night,” he said.
“I’ve messaged Di Martin and asked her to thank the councillors for their kind words.”
Her funeral service will take place on Tuesday, July 29 at 11am at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Bulwark, Chepstow.