Obituary: Death of former Westminster Mayor Angela Hooper CBE

Published: 26 March 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

ANGELA Hooper, who gave a lifetime of public service to the people of Westminster as a councillor in Marylebone has died. 

Ms Hooper picked up a CBE for her work as a senior agent at Conservative Central Office and will be remembered as a defender of the borough’s architectural heritage and for her time chairing the planning committee, as well as being a popular figure at City Hall and Marylebone, where she served as a Conservative member for 25 years.

Ms Hooper, who was in her 70s, lived in St James’s with her sister and died after a long battle with cancer.

She represented both Baker Street and Bryanston and Dorset Square wards as well as a period as Lord Mayor in the mid 1990s.

Until recently she chaired the council’s standards committee.

Tributes have flooded in from colleagues.

Current Lord Mayor Duncan Sandys said: “In my early years as a councillor I served as her deputy and learnt much from her broad experience. Angela became a close friend and was always focused on helping the next generation. A kind and considerate lady, she was continually supportive of me over the years, not least as Lord Mayor.

“A distinguished Lord Mayor herself, Angela became a great friend to many and bore her illness in recent years with a courage and dignity that inspired everyone. She will be missed by all of us and our thoughts and prayers are with her sister, Gloria, and her family.”

Fellow ward councillor Audrey Lewis said: “I will always remember canvassing with Mark Field before he was elected, in a council-owned block where person after person told us that they always voted Labour but would vote for Angela because she had been prepared to work out their problems.”

Councillor Carolyn Keen said: “Angela had a distinguished public career but she was always very discreet about this. Her work in the ward and record as a chairman on various committees earned her respect and a personal following that not many politicians merit.”

Labour leader Paul Dimoldenberg said: “Her long experience, her good sense and her wise counsel informed the workings of the council at every level and she will be missed by everyone. Despite her illness she never shirked her duties or responsibilities. Our deepest sympathies go out to Councillor Hooper’s family at this very sad time.”

Angela Marie Hooper CBE DL died March 20.

A service of thanksgiving for her life will be held at Westminster Cathedral on May 27 at 11am.