Colleagues of a late councillor have paid tribute to her dedicated service to Longtown.
Cumbria County Council members held a moment of silence for councillor Val Tarbitt at the first county council meeting since the Longtown representative’s passing.
Val Tarbitt, 81, died on Friday January 28 after collapsing at Longtown Community Centre.
She was a passionate advocate for Longtown and a trustee of the community centre.
Her group leader Hillary Carrick said: “Val was someone who was always destined to leave lasting impression on everyone she met. She was a larger than life character and it has been a huge shock. Val was very proud to be a councillor.”
Cllr Tarbitt joined Cumbria County Council through a by-election in 2010 and also served as a Carlisle City Council member for the same ward since 2019.
She held the shadow portfolio for children’s services, was chair of the scrutiny advisory board – children and young people; and was a member of scrutiny management board, LEP scrutiny board, staffing committee and Carlisle local committee.
The Conservative Group leader said that the councillor for Longtown brought her passion for supporting the next generation, from her work in higher education, into her role as a councillor.
Cllr Stewart Young, leader of the Labour Group and council said: “When I think of Val I think of the word formidable because she had a presence really when she came into a room.
“As a council member she was dedicated to the needs of everyone in Longtown. I’ll certainly remember Val with some fondness. I’m sure she’ll be missed by the people she represented.”
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Peter Thornton said: “Val Tarbitt’s untimely death was a shock to us all and there is a genuine sadness in our Lib Dem Group.”
The council heard of Cllr Tarbitt’s lesser known background in the armed forces.
Cllr Thornton said: “It is sad sometimes when you hear things about councillors through tributes rather than in person.”
