Many talents of former councillor
FAMILY PAYS TRIBUTE TO MARIE, 96, WHO LEFT HER MARK ON A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS ACROSS BURTON AREA –
A Well-known former councillor who spent more than 50 years spearheading many community clubs has died at the age of 96.
Marie Lorain Nash was a popular organist and Women’s Institute member and was awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to her community. She has been described as “larger than life” character who worked tirelessly for the area.
She was elected to East Staffordshire Borough Council in the early 1990s and later became an alderman.
During this time she served on the borough council’s housing, planning and environmental committees, as well as representing Burton Arts Council, Burton Consolidated Charities and St Giles Hospice.
She was also a member of the University of Keele and governor of Group 3 Burton Primary Schools, to mention just a few of the roles she was committed to, her family said.
Mrs Nash married John Boss in 1947 and was proud of her family; her son Michael being a doctor and dermatology consultant and daughter, Heather, being a teacher, and later her grandchildren. John died in 1986 and she married Eric Nash eight years later.
She trained at the commercial school in Burton, working at the Swadlincote council offices during the war. It was during this time she started to become interested in politics and became a founder member and treasurer of the Young Conservatives in the area, as well as a member of the Ladies Conservatives Woodville from 1949 to 1960.
She also became a secretary at the
School of Speech and Drama in Guild Street, Burton.
On moving to Branston in 1959, she joined the WI where she was a member for more than 55 years, and was a founder member of the Thursday Welcome Club working as the chairman for more than 50 years.
As a pianist and talented organist, she played the organ at St Saviour’s Church in Branston, raising funds for the stained glass window there by holding an organ recital marathon.
Mrs Nash was elected on to Branston Parish Council in 1983 and then in the early Nineties joined the borough council.
Her son Michael said: “Her interests were varied; from playing bowls at Tatenhill Bowls Club to bridge afternoons at Barton Bridge Club.
She worked tirelessly for the wellbeing of the area, helping to improve the facilities and make Branson a pleasant place to live.
“In 2014, she was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Honours List for services to the community.
“She was a ‘larger than life’ character who will be sorely missed by her family and the community which she served.”
She passed away peacefully on April 15 at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital. Unfortunately, due to Government restrictions, attendance at her funeral is by invitation only.
However, donations in her memory will be divided between The Thursday Club, St Saviour’s Church and Branston WI via Murray’s Funeral Directors.
In 2014 she was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Honours List.
Mrs Nash’s son, Michael