Tributes to departing councillors

Tributes have been paid to several city councillors who are leaving ahead of May’s local elections.

Labour’s Jo Hodges, who currently represents the city’s Warndon ward and has twice served as Worcester’s mayor, will not be re-standing for re-election in May and will be leaving the council after 26 years.

Cllr Mike Johnson, who represents St Peter’s, and Cllr Bill Amos, who represents the Bedwardine ward, are both leaving the council ahead of the latest round of council elections.

Labour’s Tom Collins, who has represented Rainbow Hill for the last four years, and Louise Griffiths, who has served Battenhall since 2018, will also be leaving the city council.

Tributes to the departing councillors were made at the last full council meeting before May’s election in the Guildhall on Tuesday (March 29).

Cllr Adrian Gregson, deputy mayor and leader of the Labour group, said Cllr Hodge’s departure would be leaving a hole in people’s lives.

“Jo’s work cannot be summed up in short sentences and I think in particular, her commitment to the local community, to planning, and to the city’s heritage is really something that not only will we miss but will have to try and build on and replace in the future,” he said.

Cllr Hodges, who served as mayor of Worcester in 1999/2000 and 2020/21, said it was “strange” to be saying goodbye to the council.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on Worcester City Council and I hope that I have made some differences for the good to some people’s lives,” she said.

City council Bayliss paid tribute to the departing Conservative councillors calling Bill Amos “steadfast, resolute and somebody you can truly depend on” and labelling Cllr Mike Johnson a “passionate advocate for the people of St Peter’s.”

Cllr Bayliss said Cllr Griffiths was “tenacious” and a “passionate champion for her causes.”

Cllr Mike Johnson said he had enjoyed his time representing the people of St Peter’s and Cllr Bill Amos said he was “proud and honoured to be elected and served the city.”

Cllr Tom Collins, who was elected in 2018, said he was proud of the council for creating a city that is praised as somewhere people want to live and hoped the council would continue to pursue better politics.