• Category

  • Content Type

Advertisement

UK Park Renamed in Honour of Late Jamaican-Born Councillor

February 13, 2009

The Full Story

The Buslingthorpe Park in Chapeltown, Leeds, England, has been renamed the Norma Hutchinson Park, in honour of the late Jamaican-born Councillor and community activist, who passed away some five years ago.
Scores of residents of the United Kingdom-based city, including several Jamaican nationals, turned out for the recent occasion.
Jamaica’s High Commissioner to London, Burchell Whiteman, who was special guest at the ceremony, said that the late Councillor exemplified “service before self”.
“The inspirational legacy, which she has left, will enrich the entire community,” he stated.
Born in St. Mary, Ms. Hutchinson died in February 2004 at the age of 55, after a brave fight against cancer.
Described as one of Leeds’s most popular and well-loved Councillors, Ms. Hutchinson was respected for her many initiatives to support young people, especially the most vulnerable.
She was first elected to the Leeds City Council in May 1991, having previously worked in the health service and the trade union movement.
She was a member of the social care, central and corporate scrutiny boards of the City Council and later served with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.
An active member in her community, she also served on the Chapeltown Citizen’s Advice Bureau and for many years, was associated with popular events such as the Chapeltown carnival and reggae concert.
She retained great pride in Jamaica and frequently visited her relatives there, which led to the implementation of a successful fund-raising health campaign, to benefit needy persons.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Frank Robinson and local Member of Parliament Fabian Hamilton, attended the renaming ceremony.
The Norma Hutchinson Park is a recreational area, with a formal garden, performance area, football pitch, children’s playground, among other facilities.

Last Updated: August 30, 2013

Skip to content