Jamaicans in UK Pay Respects to Social Activist

The Jamaican community and a wide cross section of people from Manchester turned out on March 31 to pay their respects to one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent community campaigners and social activist, Louise Da-Cocodia.
Mrs. Da-Cocodia, who died on March 13 at age 73, was described as a passionate fighter for fairness and justice. Tributes were also paid to her as an inspirational person, who was a true role model for all and a pillar of the community.
She was a former Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater Manchester and was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) by the Queen for service to the community, in 2005.
She was born in St Catherine, Jamaica, and moved to Britain in the 1950’s to train as a nurse. Although she initially worked in the south of England, she later moved to Manchester, where she spent most of her life.
Mrs. Da-Cocodia was a stalwart in the Jamaican and wider Manchester community and was involved in many aspects of local life. She was a Justice of the Peace on the Manchester Bench, for 14 years; a non-executive member of the Manchester Health Authority and was an assessor in the Manchester City Courts. She helped to set up many voluntary organisations and business ventures, including the Cariocca Enterprises.
She was also a member of the Hytner Tribunal set up to look into the causes of the Moss Side riots in the early 1980’s, and was also a member of the council’s race sub-committee.
Mrs. Da-Cocodia was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and, Manchester Cathedral recently appointed her a lay Canon. Her activities also included a stint as deputy chair of Voluntary Action Manchester, chair of Moss Side and Hulme Women’s Action Forum and a lay inspector at the Crown Prosecution Service.