Pam Brown - Sad passing of the previous Leader of our local party
Pamela Brown O.B.E. 1924-2024
Pam Brown’s death on 2nd March means that Hastings and Rye Liberalism has lost one of its greatest campaigners and advocates. Originally from Hull, Pam was first elected to the Borough Council (with its much greater powers over education and other services in those days) in 1968 and remained there until her retirement from the Council in 2006. From 1979 she represented her beloved Castle Ward after the abolition of her previous Holy Trinity Ward. Housing was her main political interest and she served several terms as Chairman of the Housing Committee.
Pam became Leader of the Council in 1986 when the Liberals became the largest party. The Tories found this a bit difficult to comprehend, not least when Pam forced them onto the opposition benches for the first time ever. We had something of a celebration after the count at our Queen’s Road HQ, including a rousing rendition of The Land, the classic Liberal election song sadly lost to today’s Liberal Democrats. One of my favourite political memories is of the following Saturday in Pam’s Linton Court flat when she and I (wearing my agent’s hat) sat down to carve up the committee chairmanships. Happy Days! Pam became Leader for a second time in 1996 but this time with an overall majority. “There were no Tories!” she always recalled with pleasure.
Pam was Mayor of Hastings from 2004 and 2005 and was made an Honorary Freeman in 2006. She received the OBE for political service in 1992.
Pam was also a County Council for almost twenty years, including three years as Chairman of Social Services.
Amongst Pam’s many local interests were the Hastings Veterans, the Seniors Forum, St. Mary-in-the Castle and the Isobel Blackman Centre.
I can remember sitting with her in her car at the top of Priory Close during the 1981 County Council elections and trying to persuade her to apply to be our parliamentary candidate. I failed to do so and it is tempting to write a counter-factual history of Hastings politics. However, Pam’s heart was as a local politician. She gave politics a good name and, should our enthusiasm and energy ever flag at the thought of yet another round of leaflet delivery, let’s just think of Pam. And be inspired.
Paul Hunt
Hon. President, Hastings and Rye Liberal Democrats
