Hilary O'Donovan

4.52.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Oct 2005

Councillor Hilary O'Donovan, Town Councillor for Swanage

My wife met Hilary at the North Swanage book group about four years ago. Soon afterwards I got to know Hilary when we were both involved in a by - election for the Town Council. I soon realised that she was a serious campaigner for what she believed in. She was a very popular and well-known member of the Town Council.

In 2002 I helped Hilary launch The Swanage Buildings Preservation Group, its purpose being to bring up to date the listing of buildings worthy of preservation orders under the system supervised by Purbeck District Council and to review the Swanage and Herston Conservation Areas

Hilary was a member of many town organisations, taking a great interest in them all including the Sailing Club, the Pier Trust and "Play Swanage" whose activist Sue Bryant said "Hilary was a great supporter who stuck with us when the going got tough. She was a determined campaigner"

Her passing is a great loss to many aspects of Swanage life. Her many friends have lost someone who had style, glamour, passion and humour.

John Wootton