ONE of the stalwarts of the Labour movement in West Devon this week died peacefully at her Tavistock home, aged 87. Betty Batchelor, who had been ill for some time, was also a long standing member of Tavistock Town Council and attended meetings right up until recent weeks. She died on Monday night. A socialist to the core, throughout her long life Betty had rubbed shoulders with politicians at every level, from local councillors to cabinet ministers, including former Labour leader Michael Foot, whom Betty helped to win the Plymouth Devonport seat in the 1945 election. Both keen Plymouth Argyle fans, they would regularly watch matches together ? Betty was one of the honoured guests at Mr Foot?s 90th birthday party in London almost three years ago. Linda Gilroy, the Plymouth Sutton MP who always referred to Betty as ?my political mum? was with her the day before she died. Ms Gilroy said: ?She has been a great support to me over the years. She had a very long track record in the Labour and Co-operative movement ? she will be very, very greatly missed.? Cllr Ted Sherrell, who has served with Betty on the town council for more than 25 years, said: ?Betty was a lady of great character, integrity and courage. She was always faithful to her beliefs, an indomitable champion of the people she represented and never afraid to put her head above the parapet. ?Her longevity of service and her passionate defence of local democracy make her irreplaceable.? Cllr Norma Woodcock, who has known Betty for many years, said: ?She was a wise and very experienced councillor ? she belied her age and was forward looking and very active.? Mayor of Tavistock Cllr Jenny Metcalf said: ?I am shattered ? she will be very sadly missed. She was a very outstanding character.? David Benzie, chairman of Tavistock branch of the Labour Party, said: ?Betty was an inspirational member of the community, who worked tirelessly to make things better for others. She will be remembered as someone with a great mind, who always had a fantastic contribution to make at all levels.? Betty was born in 1918 and brought up in Plymouth, though she regularly visited Tavistock ? her mother?s family came from the Chillaton area. From childhood Betty would accompany her politically active parents, leafleting houses and attending meetings. She started her working life at the Co-op in Plymouth and spent the war years in the Post Office?s engineering department and the defence telegraph network at Mount Wise. She carried out ground-breaking work at Farleys in Plymouth following the war, fighting for equal opportunities for women and the less able. She first joined Plymouth City Council as a Labour member in 1950 and for more than 25 years served on the city and county councils. Betty and husband Len moved to Tavistock in 1978, where she joined the local Labour Party and won her seat on the town council. Since then, she has been one of its most hardworking, dedicated and sometimes outspoken members. She was town mayor in 1995. As she told the Times in an interview six years ago: ?If you believe in a thing passionately, you must stand your corner and fight for it ? that?s always been my yardstick.? Betty Batchelor?s funeral will take place at Weston Mill Crematorium on Tuesday February 28 at 10.30am, to which close family and friends are invited. A service of thanksgiving will take place later that day at 2pm in Tavistock Methodist Church to which all are welcome. There will be light refreshments at Tavistock Town Hall between 3.30pm and 5pm.
