Con Johnson - "First Lady of the Arts"; former Mayor; campaigner for social justice

11.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd May 2006

Con Johnson out campaigning

Former Leader of Chelmsford Borough Council, Lib Dem Phil Harvey, has expressed sorrow at the death of Con Johnson last week, in the middle of her beloved Chelmsford Cathedral Festival. "It was highly appropriate that Peter Nardone should have dedicated last Thursday's concert to her," said Phil.

"I first met Con the evening we were both selected to fight neighbouring seats for the Liberal Party in the 1979 Borough elections. My immediate impression was of a lady who was small in stature but large in spirit - an impression confirmed over the ensuing years.

"Both Con and I had been drawn into local politics by the issue of Hylands House, at that time semi-derelict and neglected. Her commitment to that cause was absolute and she fought for its restoration with passion and argument. Indeed, passion, commitment and argument (in the proper sense of that word) were qualities Con brought to all that she touched.

"For many, Con was Chelmsford's "First Lady of the Arts". When I met her, she was in charge of fund-raising for Chelmsford Theatre Workshop's project to buy the Old Court as a "Home of our own". (How many of us bought pencils and badges to help the cause?) Like many of Con's campaigns, it was successful. Her involvement in the Arts field was legendary - it was hard to find an arts or museum organisation in Chelmsford which did not include Con as a Committee member or patron! She was the only person I know who did not have a television, explaining that she was too busy to have time to watch.

"Many will remember Con's year as Mayor with its theme of "Chelmsford Pride". She rejoiced in all the good things happening in the Borough and made it her role to enthuse all whom she met. She became one of the most successful Mayors in my memory with Jane, her daughter, as the youngest Mayoress I can recall.

"Another quality that I would like to mention was Con's commitment to social justice. Some readers may recall her setting up of a charity to assist in the developing world and the visit of Sir Sonny Ramphal, the then Commonwealth Secretary General, to launch it. This was thanks to the influence of her fellow ward Councillor, Stuart Mole, who was Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

"Probably few people know that Con was a member of a Liberal International delegation which visited Gaza to investigate conditions in the Palestine refugee camps. They were so shocked by what they found that they composed a letter to the Foreign Office on the plane on the way home. This resulted in the visit by David Mellor, at that time a Foreign Office Minister, when, to his credit, he got into hot water for speaking out in similar (undiplomatic) terms while he was there.

"All Con's actions were rooted in her faith. She was a Liberal because she was a Christian who found that Liberalism suited her interpretation of her faith. She didn't just appear at Chelmsford's Cathedral Festival - she was an active member of the Cathedral congregation all year round. She will leave a large hole there, as well as throughout the Borough. Goodbye Con - we'll miss you but will remember how you strove to make our lives better. Thank you."

Phil Harvey (Chelmsford Borough Councillor, 1979-2005)