'The world is definitely a duller place without her' - Memorial bench unveiled in memory of longstanding Wolverhampton councillor
A memorial bench has been unveiled in memory of a longstanding Wolverhampton councillor following calls for a lasting legacy to be created in the city.
The late Alderwoman Paddy Bradley became a councillor for Penn in 1972 and served her ward and the city for around 40 years. She passed away on June 23, 2022 at the age of 85.
She held various roles including leader of the Conservatives and deputy mayor before being made an Honorary Alderman of the council back in 2012. After she died party colleagues called for provision of a "last legacy" in the city to honour her dedicated service to the community.
The memorial bench has now been installed in Muchall Park off Penn Road in Penn and was unveiled during a private ceremony with family members, friends and former colleagues to honour her on August 27.
Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood, said: “It was fitting we were in the heart of Paddy’s beloved Penn Ward to unveil this memorial bench, a place she served with distinction as a councillor for almost 40 years and the place she also called home. Paddy was one of those people who once you met her, you never forgot her. A strong personality who was never afraid to speak her mind, Paddy was a councillor of the old school who put the people of the city before all else.
“She had been an Honorary Alderwoman, Deputy Mayor, leader of the Conservative Group and a cabinet member amongst other roles. It is only right that someone with such distinguished service is remembered in this way.”
Paddy’s daughter Tracey Smith added: “She would have been proud and probably very humbled by this, but she never blew her own trumpet. People still remember her name now even though she stopped being a councillor 13 years ago. The world is definitely a duller place without her in it.
“This location in the park is the perfect place for the bench. It's somewhere you can come and sit and relax and think about her.
"Me and my sister, Maxine, will definitely come down here often and bring the dog.”
Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins said: “We used to lock horns at council scrutiny meetings, but the great thing about Paddy was that we’d always have a cup of tea afterwards and party politics stopped at the door when we left.
“She always put Penn and the city first. Paddy was a real great of Wolverhampton politics, a big hitter and it is fitting that we recognise the commitment and the work and effort she put in over the years. She was a good old sort as we’d say in Bilston.”
