'We shall miss her deeply' - Tributes paid to councillor who served borough for nearly three decades

Tributes have been paid to Kathy Tracey, who served the council for 29 years, after she passed away.

The former councillor has a long list of achievements, especially regarding Wandsworth's children and education services.

For years she was in charge of the council's leisure and amenities portfolio. This included some of the more important services, such as refuse collection, recycling and the upkeeping of leisure centres, sports facilities and parks.

In later years she served Wandsworth Council as a cabinet member for schools and children's services. During her tenure, many new schools were opened such as Bollingbroke Acadcemny and Putney Oasis.

She also held other important cabinet posts including regeneration, transport and community safety.

Paying tribute to Kathy, Ravi Govindia said; "Kathy Tracey was a true community stalwart who served the people of Wandsworth with great distinction for almost three decades.

"She was a doughty character with an inner strength that enabled her to overcome obstacles and get things done. But she was able to succeed in achieving her goals by putting up persuasive arguments that even her political opponents would privately concede made perfect sense and this talent helped her improve local public services with minimum fuss and disruption.

"She had a strong set of core beliefs that chimed with local people and this coupled with her dedication to selfless public service ensured that she was a brilliant colleague who could always be relied on.

"She was asked recently what her proudest moment in local government had been and she said it was making sure that the right processes were in place so that children in care had all the support they needed as they became adults. Being Kathy she of course made sure that happened and this comprehensive care package for the borough's care leavers is quite rightly a fitting legacy of her time on the council.

"Sadly it was only in March last year that her beloved husband Dick passed away and she bore that loss and her brief illness with remarkable dignity and stoicism. We shall miss her deeply and my heartfelt condolences go out to her children and grandchildren upon whom she doted."

Councillor Ian Hart said on Twitter : "Kathy Tracey. Grandmother, mother, wife, Wandsworth councillor, cabinet member, corporate parent, actress, charity worker, friend and mentor to so many. You will be missed.

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