Tributes paid to councillor after death at 78
TRIBUTES have been paid to a senior Sandwell councillor who has died.
Councillor Ann Shackleton, aged 78, passed away in the early hours of last Wednesday. Councillors from across the political spectrum paid tribute to the Cradley Heath and Old Hill councillor and offered their condolences to her husband, Mike Shackleton.
Labour councillor Pam Randhawa said: “I have known Ann for over 20 years from her days as a leading headteacher in Smethwick, always available very down to earth with her no nonsense approach in giving advice.
“I cannot imagine the council chamber in Sandwell without
Ann and her amazing presence, with a ‘can do’ attitude, approachability and putting her community and residents first. “An exemplary role model for us new councillors. It’s an end of an era.”
Councillor Shackleton had served as a Labour councillor in the Cradley Heath and Old Hill ward for 18 years, and was first elected in 2004.
Previously she was a headteacher at Corbett Primary School.
Councillor Shackleton was known for championing the work of the Cradley Heath’s women chainmakers – most recently featured in the opening of Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games ceremony – and helped commission the statue of 1910 strike leader Mary Macarthur.
She also held several senior council positions, including chair of the children and young people scrutiny board, and deputy mayor of Sandwell from 2011-2012. Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell council, said: “Ann has always been a special person willing to help the residents of Cradley Health and Old Hill. She treated the residents more like friends rather than her constituents and nothing was ever too much trouble.
“She was a role model for women in politics and personally taught me a lot. I am terribly sad about Ann’s death and will miss her always. We were friends for a long time and I have very happy memories of her.”