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| 'Youngest councillor' dies suddenly aged 21 | 'Youngest councillor' dies suddenly aged 21 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A woman who was thought to be Britain's youngest local councillor when she was elected has died suddenly. | A woman who was thought to be Britain's youngest local councillor when she was elected has died suddenly. |
| Clarissa Slade, 21, was elected in 2015, when she was 18, to represent Tiverton as a Conservative councillor on Mid Devon District Council. | Clarissa Slade, 21, was elected in 2015, when she was 18, to represent Tiverton as a Conservative councillor on Mid Devon District Council. |
| She was found at her home in Winchester, where she is going to university, by her housemate. | She was found at her home in Winchester, where she is going to university, by her housemate. |
| Her father, Colin Slade, said he was "devastated" by the loss of his daughter who "had much more to give". | Her father, Colin Slade, said he was "devastated" by the loss of his daughter who "had much more to give". |
| It is not yet known what caused her death, Mr Slade said he was "in the dark". | It is not yet known what caused her death, Mr Slade said he was "in the dark". |
| More news from Devon and Cornwall. | More news from Devon and Cornwall. |
| He said: "It is tragic her life has been cut so short. She said her long term ambition was to be prime minister - who knows what she could have achieved. | He said: "It is tragic her life has been cut so short. She said her long term ambition was to be prime minister - who knows what she could have achieved. |
| "She will be greatly missed by all who knew her." | "She will be greatly missed by all who knew her." |
| A spokesperson for the University of Winchester said: "We are deeply saddened by her death and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time." | |
| At the time of her election Miss Slade said she believed this made her the youngest councillor in the country. | At the time of her election Miss Slade said she believed this made her the youngest councillor in the country. |
| Council leader Clive Eginton said: "Clarissa had an endearing personality to all those who knew her well." | |
| 'A sad day' | 'A sad day' |
| Stephen Walford, Mid Devon Council's chief executive, said: 'This is clearly a great shock to everyone at the council and will affect all those who worked with Clarissa. | Stephen Walford, Mid Devon Council's chief executive, said: 'This is clearly a great shock to everyone at the council and will affect all those who worked with Clarissa. |
| "Clarissa's parents, who are both serving councillors here at Mid Devon, will be devastated by this news and we will be supporting them in any way we can." | "Clarissa's parents, who are both serving councillors here at Mid Devon, will be devastated by this news and we will be supporting them in any way we can." |
| North Devon MP Peter Heaton-Jones tweeted: "I knew Clarissa well. She was hardworking and always so upbeat, and had a bright future. Such a sad day." | North Devon MP Peter Heaton-Jones tweeted: "I knew Clarissa well. She was hardworking and always so upbeat, and had a bright future. Such a sad day." |
| Miss Slade was a student at the University of Winchester, having been offered a place to read Classical Studies in 2015. | Miss Slade was a student at the University of Winchester, having been offered a place to read Classical Studies in 2015. |
| She told the council at the time that she had "no intention" of resigning and that she "remained committed" to serving the people of her ward. | She told the council at the time that she had "no intention" of resigning and that she "remained committed" to serving the people of her ward. |
| Mr Eginton said: "As our youngest-ever elected councillor, Clarissa worked hard for her residents in Cranmore ward." | Mr Eginton said: "As our youngest-ever elected councillor, Clarissa worked hard for her residents in Cranmore ward." |
| Kevin Foster, Conservative MP for Torbay, paid tribute to Miss Slade in a post on Twitter. | Kevin Foster, Conservative MP for Torbay, paid tribute to Miss Slade in a post on Twitter. |
| He said he was "shocked and deeply saddened to read of Clarissa's death at only 21. My thoughts and prayers are with her family." | He said he was "shocked and deeply saddened to read of Clarissa's death at only 21. My thoughts and prayers are with her family." |