Tributes to 'selfless' East London councillor and school governor of over 40 years after sudden death

Emotional tributes have been paid to a 'selfless' Barking and Dagenham councillor who passed away suddenly last week. Glenda Paddle, who had been a councillor for Whalebone ward since 2018, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 13.

Glenda had served as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee since 2022 and before that was Chair of the Policy Task Group. Outside of her councillor role, her work as a school governor at local schools spanned decades and she was awarded Freedom of the Borough for this in 2008.

Glenda leaves behind two children and one grandchild. During an assembly meeting on Wednesday (November 20), several councillors paid tribute to Glenda and a minute's silence was held. Barking and Dagenham's Chief Executive, Fiona Taylor, said: "Throughout her public service, Glenda was supported by her husband, Chris, who she lost very suddenly only two months ago.

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"Her passing represents a huge loss to the council and the local community, and the council's deepest condolences go to her friends and family."

Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said Glenda's passing was a shock, and has left a 'huge void' within the council and the local community. Cllr Twomey said: "The thing about Glenda is that she was recognised in everything she did because she did it to the utmost of her ability.

"She was selfless, that length of time of volunteering in the community with schools, supporting people through her union work and being that voice for people that didn't have a voice and weren't able to put things across is absolutely remarkable."

Assembly chair, Irma Freeborn said: "[Glenda] was a warrior, she was anointed in what she did throughout all communities within the borough. She was such a warrior in terms of helping everyone in every background, and in terms of going out there and getting her sleeves rolled up and doing what she needed to help the communities and I learnt a lot. She has left a great legacy from doing what she did."

During the pandemic, Cllr Freeborn and Glenda worked together to tackle period poverty and successfully called on the help of their local ASDA to provide free sanitary products for women and young girls. Glenda said at the time the issue was very close to her heart and thanked ASDA for their help.

Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Integration, said Glenda was a 'really strong advocate' for her community and has a huge legacy. Cllr Worby said: "It was an honour to serve with her in every capacity, whether it was as a community activist in Chadwell Heath and like [Cllr Twomey] said, I was so pleased when she decided she wanted to become a councillor."

Fellow Whalebone ward councillor, Mukhtar Yusuf, said: "I was really close to Glenda over the years and the shock of her passing has hit me really hard. I knew the amount of work she was doing behind the scenes, in her work as a school governor for over 40 years, the work she did during Covid on period poverty, she was a towering figure in the community."

Cllr Yusuf said it was 'absolutely amazing' to see how Glenda rallied the community together when the Spectrum Building caught fire in August. Barking and Dagenham Council said in a statement: "Glenda’s passion for the borough was matched only by her modesty and a steely sense of civic duty which accompanied her straightforward manner.

"She was a proud trade unionist and worked at Thompson Solicitors. Glenda is a huge loss to the council and the borough, and she will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all her family and friends at this sad time."

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