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Dover mayor Neil Rix pays tribute to Cllr Veronica Philpott who died of motor neurone disease

Tributes and fundraising plans continue in honour of former Dover mayor Veronica Philpott.

Profits from a cabaret night will be used to fight the illness that claimed her life, motor neurone disease, and a second show entirely dedicated to the cause is being planned.

Meanwhile present Dover mayor Neil Rix has added his own moving tribute to his predecessor.

Ronnie Philpott as Dover mayor with Judge Andrew Patience, council honorary recorder, left, and Christopher Hobbs-East, town sergeant from that time. Picture courtesy of Dover Town Council.
Ronnie Philpott as Dover mayor with Judge Andrew Patience, council honorary recorder, left, and Christopher Hobbs-East, town sergeant from that time. Picture courtesy of Dover Town Council.

Cllr Philpott had died on Friday, May 26, the day after the mayor making for Cllr Rix’s second term in office.

Cllr Rix. speaking for all Dover Town Council, now said: “Words cannot express how sorry and sad we are to say goodbye to Ronnie.

“Ronnie was born here in Dover and lived nearly her whole life in the house and community were she was born.

“She brought all her deep knowledge and love of the town, and especially her Tower Hamlets ward, to her work as a councillor, always looking for the best outcomes for everyone.

Cllr Neil Rix at his mayor making last week
Cllr Neil Rix at his mayor making last week

Cllr Rix continued: “As mayor, deputy mayor and a senior councillor she was both admired and respected for her hard work and her firm and fair leadership, which reached across political divides.

“We will remember Ronnie for her huge zest for life, her generosity especially for those facing hard times, her enthusiasm for her council work and her genuine warmth towards everyone she met.

“Her engagements as mayor always had to be planned with extra time because so many people wanted to talk with her and discuss projects and plans for the town.

“Ronnie had a particular concern for the young people of Dover which led to her becoming a governor and mentor to local schools.

"As mayor she greatly enjoyed hosting groups of schoolchildren and members of the girl guide movement to help them find out more about the Mayoralty and the work of the town council.

"Our thoughts are especially with her husband Chris and her son Shaun at this very sad time.”

Cllr Philpott was elected to Dover Town Council in 2006, and served as town mayor in 2011-12 and 2013-14.

She was deputy mayor in 2012-13 and was also mayoress from 2009 to 2011.

She was a member of the Labour Party and for several years chairman of the council’s civic and special projects committee.

Dover mayor Neil Rix with town councillors and officials at the 2017 mayor making
Dover mayor Neil Rix with town councillors and officials at the 2017 mayor making

A pre-arranged Dean Martin tribute night will now be used to give money to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

It is both in memory of Cllr Philpott and Temple Ewell Players actress Linda Clarke who died from the condition last October.

The That’s Amore cabaret night, for Martin's 100th birthday, is from 7.30pm Saturday, June 10, at Dover Town Hall.

Tickets are still available at £15 per person or £135 for a full table.

The show is organised by the Dover entertainments company JIGintheBOX, which is still working on a follow-up dedicated entirely to help MNDA.

Further details on that are to be confirmed shortly.

For tickets for That’s Amore call the ticketline 07920 255493 or visit bluefishcabaret.com.

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