TRIBUTES have been paid to former Wellington Town Council member Janet Reed who died last month.

Councillors spoke during the council’s full monthly meeting on December 2 of their sadness at the news of Mrs Reed’s death.

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, said: “We joined the town council at the same time – so the council had two Janet’s in one go!

“She did so much for Wellington and worked so hard for everyone and everything.”

Mrs Reed served as a town councillor 12 years and on the former Taunton Deane Borough Council for eight years, but lost her place on both authorities at the local elections in 2019.

Cllr Lloyd said Mrs Reed worked hard to get the funding from the former Taunton Deane Borough Council to finance the creation of Wellington Petanque Club’s court by The Basins.

“She was a lovely lady and I will miss her and I’m sure Wellington will miss her as well,” added the Mayor.

Cllr Lloyd said Mrs Reed was “Conservative blue through and through” – although she did resign from the Tory Party in 2019 following the election of Boris Johnson as party leader and Prime Minister.

Cllr Andy Govier added: “Janet was very active in the town up until she was diagnosed with terminal illness. The whole town will be thankful for her efforts.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “She was the salt of the earth and she always had her ear to the ground.

“She was always being collared in the street and she would pick up a lot of the issues in the town just by speaking to people.”

Cllr Ross Henley added: “I was very shocked when I heard she was very unwell. We used to have some good arguments on the district council, but we got on well.

“She was a very kind person and had the best interests of Wellington at her heart.”

Following the tributes, councillors and members of the public stood for a minute’s silence in memory of Mrs Reed who had also served as Deputy Mayor.

She passed away at Linden House in Wellington on November 12 at the age of 81. Her husband, Derick, died in 2021.