Club meeting at Ashmores

28 Oct 2021 Jane Costello- Life as a London Councillor

Jane said that she had been an elected Councillor of the London Borough of Waltham Forest for 16 years during the 80’s and 90’s.

Jane had been born in the East End of London within the sound of Bow Bells, making her a true Cockney. She grew up in Sir Winston Churchill's constituency and as a child she was selected to present a bouquet to Lady Churchill.  Her Junior school was closed for Election Day so she helped at the last election involving Sir Winston and received a thank you letter signed by Sir Winston which she proudly retains.

Her senior school taught the girls about elections and when she left became more involved in local politics.  She later moved to Waltham Forest and in 1981 was challenged by the chairman of the local party to stand for election to the Borough Council. Eventually she said she would stand if the chairman did as well. He agreed but moved away before the election took place.

Jane stood in the Borough Elections in 1982 and was elected for a ward in Chingford where the MP at the time was Norman Tebbit.

During her time on the Borough Council she became the first woman to lead any Party Group on the Council and served on most committees during her 16 years as a Councillor. Council Agendas, documents, reports and minutes were all printed and each councillor received a stack of paperwork about 6ft high each year! 

As member of the council was privileged to meet The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and be invited to the opening of a Mortuary, a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and Dinner at the House of Commons.

Jane said it was an honour to have been a councillor despite at times heart-breaking and heart-warming

After eventually moving to Bingham, she served for a while on Bingham Town Council.                ST