Tributes paid to former mayor described as 'Leominster through and through'

Molly Cooke, who was a Leominster councillor for 39 years, died suddenly at home aged 83 on Monday, June 13.

Born in Leominster in October 1932, Mrs Cooke was one of five children. After school, she worked in the office at Cadbury’s under Councillor Bob Booth which is where her interest in local politics was first set in motion.

She met her husband, Bert, at a dance at Orleton Village Hall when she was around 16 and they married at Leominster’s Priory Church in 1953.

The couple adopted Amanda and her twin brother Lyndon, who sadly died aged six, when they were just a few weeks old in 1967.

Later, she was also grandmother to Andrew, Jessica, Bradley and Ashley and a great grandmother to Soph, Dixie and Harry.

She was passionate about Leominster and worked hard over almost 40 years to help make it a better place before retiring just last year.

She was Mayor of Leominster three times, most recently between 2013 and 2014.

Well-known for being involved with a number of community projects including the town’s new skatepark, swimming pool, the millennium clock, the Christmas lights and the Victorian market, Mrs Cooke would help in any way possible and was always fundraising for and attending local events.

Her work as a Labour councillor also enabled her to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Paying tribute to her mother, Amanda Cooke said: “She did everything for everybody else. Everybody else came before herself. She was always trying to fundraise. She was Leominster through and through. Anything she could do for Leominster, she would do it. "That's where she got her motivation from."

She is well-known throughout the town and was both a friend and councillor to many residents.

Also an active member of the Legion, Mrs Cooke raised funds each year through the poppy appeal and when not doing council work, she loved to be in her garden.

Her sisters, Sybil Caslin and Barbara Juliff, said Mrs Cooke got into politics so she could help people.

“She was so passionate about the town. She was always raising funds for something and anything that was going on she would be involved with," they said.

“She will be greatly missed by family and by others in the town who would class her as their good friend.”

In a statement, the North Herefordshire Labour Party added its condolences.

"Molly was so involved with so many groups in Leominster that she would constantly be consulting her diary to make sure that she could attend a meeting,” it said.

"Her sudden passing has left a huge void not only in the Labour Party but also in the lives of Leominster people. She will be sorely missed."

The currenty Mayor of Leominster, Councillor Angela Pendleton has also paid her respects.

She said: "Molly, cared deeply about the people of Leominster especially children, and was always champion of the underdog.

"She worked hard with Roger Hunt on the Skateboard Group to get a skatepark in Leominster and also the swimming pool fund-raising group. 

"As a town councillor, she was very wise and financially astute.

"She served on many committees and working parties and had great interest in keeping Leominster streets and green spaces clean and tidy.

"She was a trustee of Grange Court for many years.

"Molly started the Victorian Street Market in the mid-1990s and chaired Leominster Attractions Group, together with the town's switching on of the Christmas lights and children's christmas carol service at the Priory Church."

Molly could always be relied upon to help with fund raising events, raffles, charity shops, coffee mornings etc - anything to help others, she said.

"She gave herself to Leominster and its people and was greatly loved," she added.

"In summary, Molly Cooke was a stalwart of all things Leominster, she worked tirelessly for all that mattered to her as a town councillor and as a resident.

"She was well respected and loved for all that she did under the banner of town council as councillor and as Mayor of Leominster."