How Sue filled a gap for 13 years

WHEN Sue Dodd agreed to stand as a borough councillor for Stockton Heath, it was to “fill a gap” for 18 months.
In fact, she served for 13-and-a-half years before deciding to stand down at last May’s elections.
Now she has been rewarded by being made an Honorary Alderman – an honour bestowed on comparatively few former councillors as a minimum of 10 years’ service is necessary.
Sue, a Liberal Democrat, was formerly a drama teacher and throughout her council career was closely involved with education and children’s services. Latterly, she was chairman of the children’s services scrutiny committee.
She said: “I enjoyed the work, although I’m still not sure how 18 months snowballed into 13-and-a-half years.
“The things I remember most are small victories – little things, such as a thank you note from someone you helped over things like street lights or noisy neighbours.”
Sue is still a member of the steering group which helped Stockton Heath become the first village in the county to be awarded a Purple Flag, still a school governor and also a keen contestant in a local quiz league, so she expects to remain busy.
She is involved in a number of writing groups, has written several plays and hopes she may now have time to write her first novel.
“Being an Honorary Alderman will help keep me in touch with what is going on at the council but it doesn’t give me the right to graze sheep on the Town Hall lawn or anything like that,” she joked.
Pictured: Sue receives her award from Warrington Mayor Cllr Steve Wright.