This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/02/peggy-white-obituary

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Peggy White obituary Peggy White obituary
(3 months later)
Peggy White, a Leeds Conservative stalwart and long-serving city councillor, has died aged 86 after suffering a stroke. Peggy was deputy lord mayor of Leeds in 1993 and became lord mayor in 1995. She was appointed CBE in 1978 for her work in social services.Peggy White, a Leeds Conservative stalwart and long-serving city councillor, has died aged 86 after suffering a stroke. Peggy was deputy lord mayor of Leeds in 1993 and became lord mayor in 1995. She was appointed CBE in 1978 for her work in social services.
Born Jessie Margaret Lyth but always known as Peggy, she was educated at Harrogate college and went to work in industry in London. She returned north and in 1963 married Peter White, who became a professional Conservative agent in Leeds. Peter had the unusual distinction in 1968 of winning a city council seat on the toss of a coin, having tied with his Labour opponent in a ward considered safe for Labour.Born Jessie Margaret Lyth but always known as Peggy, she was educated at Harrogate college and went to work in industry in London. She returned north and in 1963 married Peter White, who became a professional Conservative agent in Leeds. Peter had the unusual distinction in 1968 of winning a city council seat on the toss of a coin, having tied with his Labour opponent in a ward considered safe for Labour.
Peter always wore a rather seraphic smile when Peggy embarked on one of her regular robust defences of her political position.Peter always wore a rather seraphic smile when Peggy embarked on one of her regular robust defences of her political position.
She had been elected the year before Peter and in 1970 became chair of the council's new social services committee. With the Conservatives dominating local government at that time, she became chair of the national organisation for municipal social services.She had been elected the year before Peter and in 1970 became chair of the council's new social services committee. With the Conservatives dominating local government at that time, she became chair of the national organisation for municipal social services.
Peggy was a member of numerous statutory and voluntary bodies in the social services and health sphere. These included the area health authority, the National Children's Bureau, the executive of the RNIB and the National Volunteer Bureau. Her opponents sometimes accused her of being tough in her attitudes to her chosen specialism, but none could gainsay her immense energy and dedication, or her personal kindliness and generosity.Peggy was a member of numerous statutory and voluntary bodies in the social services and health sphere. These included the area health authority, the National Children's Bureau, the executive of the RNIB and the National Volunteer Bureau. Her opponents sometimes accused her of being tough in her attitudes to her chosen specialism, but none could gainsay her immense energy and dedication, or her personal kindliness and generosity.
She was a firm Conservative loyalist and held numerous offices in the Leeds party even though, with her forthright views, she was often an inflexible colleague. She had to fight off an attempt to deselect her in her city council ward in 1990 – after 23 years on the council.She was a firm Conservative loyalist and held numerous offices in the Leeds party even though, with her forthright views, she was often an inflexible colleague. She had to fight off an attempt to deselect her in her city council ward in 1990 – after 23 years on the council.
She retired in 1998, having been latterly a member of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority and leader of the Conservative group on the police authority.She retired in 1998, having been latterly a member of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority and leader of the Conservative group on the police authority.
Talking to me recently, she still held strong opinions on current issues and about political colleagues, but had mellowed enough to admit that others might think differently. She rather liked being known as a fierce political animal.Talking to me recently, she still held strong opinions on current issues and about political colleagues, but had mellowed enough to admit that others might think differently. She rather liked being known as a fierce political animal.
Peter died in 1988.Peter died in 1988.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.