In Memoriam – Ann Shaw OBE

Yesterday I attended Ann Shaw’s Memorial Service which filled St Marys Church, Rickmansworth with many friends and colleagues. I had known Ann for 30 years. I valued her as a friend, appreciated her as a colleague and admired her as an effective community politician. I shall miss her very greatly.
Ann will have many “memorials” both physically and in our memories but one which was mentioned three times during the service was her commitment to children and the first-class playgrounds that were installed across Three Rivers under her leadership.

After the service I happened to drive past one of these, filled with happy, noisy, excited and lively children watched by caring parents.
Who could ask for a better memorial than that?
Goodbye, Ann. I was privileged to have known and worked with you.
This is what her friends and colleagues colleagues on Three Rivers District Council wrote,
“We are still recovering from the sudden loss of Cllr Ann Shaw OBE.
Cllr Martin Trevett and Ann shared the Three Rivers District Council seat of Chorleywood South and Maple Cross.

Cllr Trevett said Ann was a special kind of person,

‘I had known her for about 40 years and we had served together on Three Rivers for over 30 years, during which time she was leader of the Liberal Democrat group and Leader of the Council.
Ann was the sort of person that would not take no for an answer. If she could not get something done she would do it herself, always the champion of old, young and disadvantaged.
With Ann on your side you felt that nothing was impossible.
The world will be a poorer place now she is not with us.'”