This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/02/sally-shaw-obituary

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sally Shaw obituary Sally Shaw obituary
(2 days later)
Our mother, Sally Shaw, who has died aged 87, found her vocation in Manchester's civic life. She was first elected to Manchester city council in 1968 and represented Cheetham ward from 1973 to 1990. Passionate, articulate and independent-minded, she was a skilled committee chair and became known as "Red Sal", probably as much for the favourite dress she wore to public meetings as for her Labour politics.Our mother, Sally Shaw, who has died aged 87, found her vocation in Manchester's civic life. She was first elected to Manchester city council in 1968 and represented Cheetham ward from 1973 to 1990. Passionate, articulate and independent-minded, she was a skilled committee chair and became known as "Red Sal", probably as much for the favourite dress she wore to public meetings as for her Labour politics.
Beyond the council chamber she left her mark on a range of local and national bodies, including Manchester Council for Community Relations, Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), where she was a governor, North West Arts, the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Manpower Services Commission.Beyond the council chamber she left her mark on a range of local and national bodies, including Manchester Council for Community Relations, Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), where she was a governor, North West Arts, the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Manpower Services Commission.
Born Sally Plimsoll, the granddaughter of Samuel Plimsoll MP, the campaigner for maritime safety, her childhood was not easy despite comfortable surroundings in Hampstead, north London. Her mother suffered from chronic ill-health and died when Sally was 11, leaving her to the care of her father, family friends and a succession of schools. Aged 13, Sally's back was broken in a car crash. Pioneering surgery saved her mobility but in later years she was left painfully bent double, an affliction she bore with astonishing cheerfulness.Born Sally Plimsoll, the granddaughter of Samuel Plimsoll MP, the campaigner for maritime safety, her childhood was not easy despite comfortable surroundings in Hampstead, north London. Her mother suffered from chronic ill-health and died when Sally was 11, leaving her to the care of her father, family friends and a succession of schools. Aged 13, Sally's back was broken in a car crash. Pioneering surgery saved her mobility but in later years she was left painfully bent double, an affliction she bore with astonishing cheerfulness.
Precociously clever, she went to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, at the age of 17 to read English. On leaving Oxford she bluffed her way into her first job as secretary to the author Richard Hughes, after pretending to be able to take shorthand. From there she moved to Manchester and took a series of other jobs for which she was, arguably, equally ill-qualified: veterinary assistant, sales assistant at the Kendal Milne department store and youth employment officer.Precociously clever, she went to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, at the age of 17 to read English. On leaving Oxford she bluffed her way into her first job as secretary to the author Richard Hughes, after pretending to be able to take shorthand. From there she moved to Manchester and took a series of other jobs for which she was, arguably, equally ill-qualified: veterinary assistant, sales assistant at the Kendal Milne department store and youth employment officer.
Sally gave up paid employment on marrying Donald Shaw, whom she had met at Longsight Labour party in the 1950s, and she gradually became more involved in political life while bringing us up. As children it was sometimes hard for us to reconcile the serious and respected public figure with the rather more relaxed and unconventional mother we knew at home, although her sense of civic responsibility sometimes pervaded our childhood games – on family holidays a prize was offered to the person who found the most interesting piece of litter. Friends visiting the house for the first time were sometimes alarmed on encountering Partington, the pet parrot who flew freely in the house and who perfectly mimicked the RP accent that Sally never lost.Sally gave up paid employment on marrying Donald Shaw, whom she had met at Longsight Labour party in the 1950s, and she gradually became more involved in political life while bringing us up. As children it was sometimes hard for us to reconcile the serious and respected public figure with the rather more relaxed and unconventional mother we knew at home, although her sense of civic responsibility sometimes pervaded our childhood games – on family holidays a prize was offered to the person who found the most interesting piece of litter. Friends visiting the house for the first time were sometimes alarmed on encountering Partington, the pet parrot who flew freely in the house and who perfectly mimicked the RP accent that Sally never lost.
On retiring from the council she devoted herself to other causes and passions. She became a Samaritan and worked to set up a listeners service at Strangeways prison, her love of Manchester City being a natural icebreaker with many of the people she met.On retiring from the council she devoted herself to other causes and passions. She became a Samaritan and worked to set up a listeners service at Strangeways prison, her love of Manchester City being a natural icebreaker with many of the people she met.
She is survived by Donald, us and her three granddaughters.She is survived by Donald, us and her three granddaughters.
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am