Tributes paid to inspirational former Mayor and champion of women in political life
RITA BRIGGS ALSO ENCOURAGED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
RITA Briggs, a former Kirklees councillor and one-time Mayor of Kirklees, has died.
A well-known and popular figure on the council and in the Holme Valley, Mrs Briggs died on July 3. She was 92.
She was first elected in 1973, taking a seat for Labour on the newly-formed Kirklees Council in 1974 and serving four years as a member for Holme Valley South.
She also served on Holme Valley Parish Council, representing Fulstone ward, and became chair in 1985/86.
She returned to Kirklees Council in 1990. Mrs Briggs was focused on extending opportunities, particularly for young people, and on recognising and addressing disadvantage and advancing the role of women.
She was at the forefront of championing the construction of Holmfirth’s swimming pool and leisure centre - where hundreds of children learned to swim - and successfully fought the case for the Pioneer - the Co-op - in the town.
She also fought to keep New Mill Library open and secured a court for public use at Thongsbridge Tennis Club.
An active member of Colne Valley Labour Party, Mrs Briggs was one of the driving forces behind the decision to invite leading figures such as Barbara Castle to inspire local Labour women to be involved in politics.
After her visit to 10 Downing Street, Mrs Briggs was invited to talk on a number of occasions about the history and women of number 10.
She was passionate about the grass roots of the Labour Party and for women’s voices to be heard.
Described by her family as “a house-tohouse canvasser through rain and snow” she was happy to talk “for ages” on the doorstep and was a very popular local figure known for her service and giving.
As well as her local activities Rita’s work took her to Northern Ireland, Poland and Romania where she slept in a bedroom once occupied by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
She became Mayor of Kirklees in 1997. Her husband Bruce, who she married in 1953, became her consort.
The visits that provided most pleasure were to schools in Kirklees, where she would listen to youngsters and encourage them to take life with both hands and challenge them to have aspirations to be politically aware.
Her watchwords were: “All of you could be a mayor”.
She was a member of several committees including planning and economic development, social services and children and young people.
For many years she was a governor and, on several occasions, chair of governors at a number of schools including Hade Edge Primary and Holmfirth High.
She was also active on Kirklees Music School Board and was involved for many years with the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival.
Mrs Briggs stepped down as a councillor in 2002 to care for her husband as his health declined. Bruce Briggs, who stood as an MP in the 1970 Louth by-election but lost to Jeffrey Archer, died in 2002.
After her husband’s death Mrs Briggs travelled extensively and welcomed a growing family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She also maintained a keen interest in local and national current affairs.
Her family said: “Her motivation for public service and community involvement was equally rooted in her Labour principles and Catholic faith, which together underpinned her lifelong kindness, generosity and service.”
At Kirklees Council’s first-ever virtual meeting of full council last week members held a one-minute’s silence in tribute to Mrs Briggs, and both Labour and Conservative former colleagues remembered her with warmth.
She was described as “an amazing, lovely woman”, “an absolutely excellent councillor”, “a champion who stood above party” and “a lovely lady who will be sadly missed”.
Council Leader Clr Shabir Pandor said, “She was an exemplary councillor and she will be missed.”
Mrs Briggs is survived by her children Katie, Stewart and Douglas as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Another child, Nigel, died in 1970.