Tributes pour in for 'strong, compassionate and dedicated' Leeds councillor Carmel Hall

Moving tributes have been paid to a 'strong, compassionate and dedicated' Leeds councillor who has died from a brain tumour.
Tributes have poured in for Leeds councillor Carmel HallTributes have poured in for Leeds councillor Carmel Hall
Tributes have poured in for Leeds councillor Carmel Hall

Carmel Hall was elected as the Liberal Democrat councillor for Rothwell in 2018.

She leaves behind her husband, George, and teenage son Luke.

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Tributes have flooded in for the popular councillor, who spent 30 years working as a journalist and PR professional.

She started her career at the Dewsbury Reporter and worked for titles including the Halifax Courier and Leicester Mercury, before launching her own PR and communications agency.

Leeds councillor and leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Stewart Golton, paid tribute to his 'friend and colleague' in a Facebook post.

He said: "She had a wicked sense of humour and a conversation with her always involved laughter.

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"Carmel was incredibly active, running marathons with her husband George, turning up to my house first thing on a morning with her hair wet on her walk home from swimming lengths at Rothwell Leisure Centre and cycling into Leeds for meetings.

"She regularly got local issues in the newspapers, as you would expect from a woman who ran her own successful PR business.

"That was why it was particularly cruel for Carmel to be afflicted by a brain tumour that not just robbed her of her physical vitality, but also her articulation to communicate.

"She was a great friend and colleague, and I know that as well as this being a huge loss for her family, she will be sorely missed by many people locally too."

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Wetherby Councillor Norma Harrington said: "So sorry to hear of the passing of Cllr Carmel Hall. We were both elected in 2018 and attended many new councillor training sessions together.

"A strong, compassionate, dedicated lady. Thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues."

Coun Jonathan Taylor said: "Saddened to learn of the passing of Rothwell Cllr Carmel Hall.

"I sat with Carmel on Scrutiny Leeds, she was a strong and committed representative on behalf of her residents, particularly on transport.

"Sending my thoughts to Carmel’s family and friends, her ward colleagues Stewart Golton and Dian Chapman.

"Carmel will be greatly missed."