Sefton Council is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Mayor Mrs Maureen Fearn.

Flags at Sefton Council buildings are being flown at half mast in tribute to the three time Mayor of Sefton, whose dedicated life of community service dates back more than forty years across both Sefton Council and the Southport Corporation.

Cllr John Pugh, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party on Sefton Council, of which Maureen represented as a Kew Ward councillor, paid tribute to his former colleague describing her as a ‘no nonsense Lancastrian.’

Cllr Pugh said: “Maureen Fearn's life of community service is well understood and appreciated - particularly in her own beloved Kew ward.

“Anyone who met her seldom forgot her. She personified traditional, down to earth, no nonsense, Lancastrian commonsense and values, delivered without fear, favour or affectation, and often with considerable insight.

“If ever there was a politician who told it to you straight, it was Maureen Fearn , though always coupled with an amused affection for humanity and its foibles".

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Maureen’s passing.

“Not only did Maureen serve the residents of Kew, Southport and Sefton Council with distinction for a period of 33 years, she was the Mayor of the Borough three times and would take charge of Council meetings with proud respect and tradition.

“I was privileged to work across the chamber from Maureen, albeit for only five years of her impressive time as a Councillor, and I completely admired her dedication to Sefton.

“As she said herself upon retirement Maureen took office out of respect and decency for the public which she served. That is incredibly admirable.

“Our thoughts go out to Maureen’s family at this difficult time.”

Former Councillor and Mayor of Sefton Mrs Maureen Fearn served as a Member of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council for Kew Ward from May 1983 until May 2016. Mrs Fearn was Mayor of Sefton on three separate occasions in 1989/90, 2010/11 and 2013/14.