Much-loved Plymouth council leader honoured in special way

(l-r) Councillor Chris Penberthy, Councillor Tudor Evans and Jon Kennedy by a tree planted at Broadland Gardens in honour of Jon's late mother, Vivien Pengelly
-Credit: (Image: PCC)


A tribute to a former leader of Plymouth City Council has been unveiled at a development that she had championed. Honorary Alderwoman Vivien Pengelly passed away in June 2023 following a short illness having served on the council for over 30 years.

A popular character on all sides of the council chamber, Councillor Pengelly served as leader of the council between 2007 and 2012, an important period in the council’s transformation, and served as Lord Mayor of Plymouth between 2013 and 2014.

In her later council career, she worked as the Cabinet Member for Housing, and it was during this time that she brought forward the plans for Broadland Gardens, a development of ten new energy-efficient, sustainable homes, built on site of the former Morley Youth Centre.

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With the site now nearly complete, a tree and accompanying bench has been installed at the site, which sits in Vivien's former Plymstock Dunstone ward.

Current leader Councillor Tudor Evans, and Councillor Chris Penberthy, joined Vivien's son Jon Kennedy, on site at the new development.

A bench dedicated to the late Honary Alderwoman Vivien Pengelly
A bench dedicated to the late Honary Alderwoman Vivien Pengelly

"I'm so pleased to be able to unveil this lasting tribute for Vivien, who served this community with such distinction for so many years," said Councillor Evans.

"Vivien was a powerful and dynamic politician and was always your friend whatever your views were. We sparred regularly, but we remained good friends. She is sorely missed."

Councillor Penberthy added: "We're so pleased to be able to honour Vivien in this way, not just in her beloved Plymstock, but also on a development she had a hand in making possible."