Tributes for popular council member

Tributes have been paid to a long-serving local councillor who has died.

Rita Rudkin (85) was a former member of Holbeach Parish Council and had only recently resigned from her positions there and at South Holland District Council.

She was a well-known member of the community and a former deputy head teacher of Spalding Academy, when it was the Sir John Gleed School.

Lord Porter of Spalding, leader of the district council, said: “It was really sad to hear that Rita had passed away.

“She was a great lady who worked tirelessly for the benefit of the people, young and old, of South Holland.

“She had a great sense of humour and an all encompassing appreciation of the English language, that when combined left me speechless.”

Coun Nick Worth, who serves on both the parish and district council, knew Mrs Rudkin for many years.

“She was a lovely lady and always very passionate about Holbeach and Fleet, where she had long-standing family connections,” he said.

“She was a great ward councillor and did a great amount for the area.”

Chairman of Holbeach Parish Council Paul Foyster, said Mrs Rudkin would be much-missed.

“She was very gracious – a really polite gentlewoman who joined the parish council around four years ago,” he said.

The funeral of Mrs Rudkin, who was widowed, is due to take place at the crematorium on November 2 at 11am.