Remembering Cllr Jeanette Halliday one year on

A year ago, Cllr Jeanette Halliday passed away on Friday 17th April 2020. Jeanette had been poorly since just after Christmas but her passing came as a great shock to all her friends and colleagues here at the Council and in the wider community of Abingdon.

Jeanette was a Past Mayor, and it is our practice to fly the town flag at half-mast from the Old County Hall (Museum) in these circumstances. At the time the flagpole needed repair and we were unable to fly the flag. Consequently, we are flying the flag at half-mast now to commemorate the anniversary of Jeanettes passing.

Jeanette was a town councillor from 1993 to 2003 and then since 2007 to her untimely passing. During her time on the Council, she held many roles including Mayor of Abingdon 1998-99 (having previously also acted as Deputy Mayor during 1997-98 and Escort to the Mayor, Cllr Jim Halliday, during 1995-96.), Leader of the Council, Chair of Planning, Chair of Twinning, and played a leading role in Abingdon-in-Bloom and in designing the annual Christmas Lights display for many years. She also represented the Council on many outside bodies – most notably the St Edmund of Abingdon Memorial Trust, and the Albert Memorial (Abingdon) Trust, as well as several school governing bodies – in particular, Carswell Primary school. In the early 2000s Jeanette served on the National Executive committee of the Association of Larger Local Councils. At the time of her untimely passing Jeanette was Chair of the Planning, Highways and Consultations Committee, and was co-ordinating a resident’s group writing the Albert Park Conservation Area Appraisal document. She was also an Executive Committee Member of the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils. Additionally, Jeanette served for a period as a District Councillor.

Jeanette was a hardworking and dedicated councillor, building up a great deal of knowledge about Abingdon and in particular the Fitzharris / Ock ward which she represented. She was generous with her time with residents, councillors, and staff. She brought great warmth and personality to meetings. She had an incisive and enquiring mind, not afraid to ask difficult questions but always tempering this with her caring and generous spirit and her great sense of humour.
One year on we all miss Jeanette and remember her and her work for our town.