Belinda Ford. Lib Dem Old Bexley & Sidcup parliamentary candidate in 2001 has died

4.54.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Apr 2003

Belinda Ford

Champion of good causes and campaigner for the Liberal Democrats, Belinda Ford died on Good Friday after a 3 year battle against cancer. She has left her husband, 3 sons and a daughter, who are devastated by their loss.

Belinda was Lib Dem candidate for East Surrey at the 1997 General Election and stood for the party in the Old Bexley and Sidcup seat in 2001, after the start of her illness. She was a councillor for the Oxted North and Tandridge Ward of Tandridge District Council in 1986-7 and from 1990-1994, when the Liberal Democrats led the Council and she chaired the Environment and Leisure Committee. She was also a Parish Councillor for Tandridge Parish for 8 years.

After working as a medical secretary in the Health sector, she chaired the East Surrey Community Health Council before becoming a non-executive director of East Surrey Learning Disabilities and Mental Health NHS Trust. Many other voluntary organisations are indebted to her support and she chaired the Tandridge Voluntary Service Council, the Oxted Citizens' Advice Bureau, LINK, the East Surrey Resettlement Association, the Tandridge Multiple Sclerosis Society and Tandridge Dial-a-Ride.

As her illness progressed, she gradually relinquished her remaining offices in the voluntary sector. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Paul Hurren, Belinda Ford's Agent in Old Bexley & Sidcup at the 2001 General Election says:

It was with great sadness that I received the news this week of the death of Belinda Ford, Liberal Democrat PPC for Old Bexley and Sidcup in the 2001 General Election.Belinda committed herself whole heartily to the campaign, despite her illness which she bore so bravely. I was pleased to work with her and act her agent during the election campaign. My thoughts are with her husband and her family at this time.

Paul Hurren

Liberal Democrat Agent for Belinda Ford

2001 Election.