The leader of Oldham Council has paid tribute to 'pioneer' councillor Jean Stretton, who was the first woman to lead the local authority.
It was confirmed this weekend that long-serving Labour councillor and cabinet member Jean Stretton had died aged 64.
She had represented the Hollinwood ward for 19 years in two stretches as councillor, and held the role as leader of the town hall for two years from 2016 to 2018.
Coun Stretton was the first woman to head up the council in Oldham’s history. Since her time in office there have been two more female leaders, including current leader Coun Amanda Chadderton.
She held several cabinet positions in areas including housing, health and wellbeing, town centres, culture and tourism. At the time of her death she held the portfolio for neighbourhoods.
Paying tribute to her colleague, Coun Chadderton said: “Jean’s death has come a complete shock to everyone here at the council. She was attending meetings and keeping busy with ward and borough-wide work only last week.
“My thoughts are with her husband John and all her family and friends.
“Jean was an Oldhamer through and through and was everything you want in a local councillor – she listened to residents’ concerns and worked hard to improve their lives and make a difference.
“Her dedicated support of Oldham Foodbank, which was founded in her ward 10 years ago, is just one of example of how she cared for her fellow residents.
“She was well-respected and also a pioneer. As Oldham council’s first female leader she championed the borough on a regional level and I’m honoured that I have been able to follow in her footsteps.
“I speak for a lot of people when I say she’ll be missed.”
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has offered condolences to the family of Cllr Stretton.
Councillor Sykes said: “I’ve known Jean since she was first elected for Hollinwood in 2003 and I’ve worked closely with her in number of roles; not least when she was Leader of the Council between 2016 and 2018.”
“She was Oldham’s first female Leader and a great advocate for so many causes during her time on the council, including Oldham Foodbank and the Credit Union. Jean will be sorely missed by all who worked with her and today my thoughts and prayers go with her husband John, her two stepchildren, five grandchildren and her great granddaughter at this very difficult time.”
Raised on the Alt estate, she was educated at Alt Primary and Hathershaw Comprehensive schools.
After studying an MBA at Bolton Institute Coun Stretton returned to live in Hollinwood in 1989.
In 2013, she was named ‘Community Champion of the Year’ at the Councillor Achievement Awards organised by the Local Government Information Unit for what judges called her ‘inspiring work to help her community in Oldham recover following a gas explosion’ in Shaw.
She became council leader in January 2016 and served until May 2018
Jean sat on all Hollinwood District Committees and was also a chair of Oldham Credit Union, a governor at Oasis Academy, Limehurst Primary School and served on the Contour Estate Board since 2003.
She leaves behind her husband John, two stepchildren, five grandchildren and a great granddaughter.
An online book of condolence will be available at www.oldham.gov.uk so people can pay their respects. Books of Condolence will also be available to sign in the Civic Centre Reception and at St Chads Centre, Lime Green from Wednesday.
The borough flag at the Civic Centre will also fly at half-mast on the day of her funeral.
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