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Former Cherwell Chairman Maureen Hastings has died
17/08/2020
Former Yarnton councillor who served on Cherwell District Council for 26 years has passed away
Tributes are today being paid to Maureen Hastings, a former chairman of Cherwell District Council who has passed away at the age of 92. Mrs Hastings represented the Yarnton ward for over 26 years from 1982 until 2008. She was elected as Cherwell’s vice chairman in May 2001, before being made chairman in 2002. After two years in that role she was re-elected as vice chairman from 2004 to 2005.
Maureen Hastings was born in Kensington and Chelsea in November 1927. With her family she left London after being bombed out in World War Two.
After a spell in Crowell in south Oxfordshire, the family moved to Begbroke, where the young Maureen attended St Juliana’s Convent School. During this time she became well known for fighting for causes she believed in.
Mrs Hastings studied domestic science in college as a young woman before going on to work as a nurse at Battle Hospital in west Reading and at The Nuffield, Oxford. In 1953, she married Norman Hastings, the son of a local Begbroke farmer.
Mrs Hastings’ interest in local politics saw her progress through the parish council and the boards of governors of local Catholic schools. As well as serving on Cherwell District Council she was also an elected member of Oxfordshire County Council
Councillor Barry Wood, leader of the council, said: “Many local residents will remember what a first-class, community-based councillor Maureen was. Others will recall that for many years she was the matron at Bicester School. I remember fondly the many occasions she helped with canvassing for votes in Bicester when nearly every young adult said ‘Hello, matron how are you?’. She loved that. She will be missed by all her old friends on the council.”
Aside from her work as a local councillor, Mrs Hastings taught flower arranging and was chair of the Oxford Flower Club for many years. She was also involved in a successful campaign to retain Catholic schools in Oxford and the Diocese of Birmingham and was recognised for this with a Benemerenti Medal for services to the Catholic Church, awarded by Pope John Paul the second.
Although news of Mrs Hasting’s passing has come today, she died on Saturday 25 July.
Councillor Maurice Billington, councillor for Kidlington East, said: “It was a really sad day when my closest friend Maureen passed away. She was well loved in Yarnton and Begbroke and we shared several committees together, especially planning. She was well-loved and I shall miss our cups of tea in the garden”.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Cllr Surinder Dhesi On 07/09/2020 at 5:17 pm
A very sad day, Maureen was a dedicated councillor and friend who worked hard for parish .Deepest condolences to her sons and their family.
T