TRIBUTE TO TIRELESS FUNDRAISER
September 10, 2009 11:26 AM
Sadly one of North Devon's most tireless fundraisers, Irene Somerville, has died at the age of 83. North Devon's MP, Nick Harvey, said: "Irene was a very colourful character, known in Combe Martin and Ilfracombe particularly, but she was also very interested and active in politics.
"I think her most memorable moment was during the 2001 general election when William Hague paid a visit to North Devon and went through Barnstaple Pannier Market.
"He saw Irene with her Union Jacks, looking like a safe bet for a Tory leader to talk to, and Irene absolutely ripped him apart. The whole thing was caught on West Country TV."
She used to pop into the Liberal Club in Barnstaple when Nick Harvey had his office there.
"We would hear, at the bottom of the stairs, a rendition of Onward Christian Soldiers and know that Irene had come in for coffee," he said.
"She was a great story teller as well and would give accounts of her early life, cycling miles to work at Weston-Super-Mare."
Her grand-daughter Michelle said: "Although it was a real shock for her to go so quickly we are so glad she did not suffer. She died peacefully."
Irene died on 31 August at the Susan Day Residential Home, Ilfracombe.
For Irene's obituary see:
http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/news/Irene-sang-help-charities/article-1322995-detail/article.html
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