Tributes paid to dedicated Blackpool councillor Lily

Coun Henderson died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, aged 94, at the Park View Care Home on Lytham Road in South Shore.

She retained her Highfield seat, which she had held since 2000, at the May 2019 local elections for the Conservatives, but ill health had forced her to step back from her town hall duties.

Prior to 2000, she represented Squires Gate between 1983 and 1995.

Coun Henderson served as Blackpool Mayor in 2003/4 and was awarded an MBE in 2005 in recognition of her contribution to the voluntary sector.

After that honour, Lily – a member of Blackpool South Conservatives for more than 50 years – received congratulatory phone calls from Tory stalwarts William Hague, Eric Pickles and Iain Duncan-Smith.

Her daughter Victoria Da Silva was also awarded the MBE in 2015 for services to scouting.

Her son Coun David Henderson, who is leader of Wyre Council, said his mother had remained active as long as she could, and was still holding constituency surgeries up until August last year.

He said: “A councillor of her calibre and stature is a sad loss to the people of Blackpool.

“Not only Blackpool, but the family as well have lost a guiding hand. I couldn’t have had a better teacher to prepare me for council duties and what it throws at you.”

Coun Henderson was born in Sheffield but moved to Blackpool to help her parents set up a boarding house in 1951, and ended up staying in the resort.

She brought up her own two children while also helping raise her two nieces and nephew after their mum, her sister, was killed in an accident on holiday.

After taking over her parents’ guest house, she also worked behind the bar at the Manchester Pub and as a driver for Radio Cabs to bring in money for her family.

Her council and community work focused on young people, supporting fostering services and fundraising in her role as president of Blackpool Scouts.

In recent times she had used ward grants to fund free tennis lessons for children at Highfield Park.

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the Conservatives on Blackpool Council, said: “Up until very recently she was still working for the residents in Highfield Ward and organising tennis tuition and other activities for the young people of Blackpool.

“One of the longest serving and certainly the oldest councillor in the UK, Lily was utterly dedicated to her duties as a councillor and ambassador for all things Blackpool.

“She was ‘mum’ to all the Conservative councillors in the town and the most reliable source for common sense decisions and wise advice.”

Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said: “Lily served the whole Blackpool community with great dedication and distinction during her decades as a ward councillor and her time as mayor.

“She was re-elected last year in Highfield Ward at the age of 92 and her passion for serving the community was second to none.

“At the age of 94 she was the oldest Conservative councillor in the country. Blackpool, the residents of Highfield, and the whole community have lost a true champion.”

Blackpool Scouts said there “was no-one prouder” to be involved with the organisation.

They said her lifelong love of scouting included “raising lots of money, supporting sponsored events, coffee mornings, presenting certificates and speaking on behalf of the scouts in either the Town Hall, at the dinner dance or to anyone that she could promote the benefits and values of scouting to.”

Coun Henderson is the second Blackpool councillor and former mayor to have died in the past month, after former council leader Peter Callow died on November 24, aged 81.

As well as her children, she leaves extended family including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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