June Wood, Chairman of the Parish Council died on Saturday 9th May.
The Blog is sad to record the death of June Wood, whose funeral took place in Horsington Church Wednesday 27 May. Despite criticising the council’s actions on several occasions, we recognise with thanks her outstanding contribution to the community in South Cheriton, where she lived, and Horsington.
Gill Elston, former chair of the village hall committee, who worked very closely with June, gave an appreciation of June’s life at the recent village Hall AGM.
This is what she said.
“”June Wood’s death signals the passing of an era. Perhaps there are not many left in South Cheriton and Horsington today who can appreciate the enormous influence she had on the villages, the improvements for which she was largely responsible, and the facilities she enabled to be built. It is doubtful that, without her drive, knowledge, contacts and passion for progress, there would ever have been a modernised and extended village hall, a proper school car park and other school extensions and a children’s playground. And these were only some of her many achievements.
A politician to her finger tips, for many years she represented our ward as an Independent county and district councillor, always topping the poll. People knew she was committed and genuinely involved in their local affairs and problems. She chaired, and effectively ran, the Parish Council nearly to the end of her life in spite of grappling with a chronic and disabling illness.
Always supported by her husband, Dick, who predeceased her, June was not always easy to deal with. She knew what she wanted, and would sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to get it. This produced both tremendous loyalty from some and disenchantment from others.
It is rare nowadays for anyone to care for, and contribute so much to, their environment and community. June will be sorely missed”