Merton Tories Pay Tribute to Dame Angela Rumbold

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Former Mitcham and Morden MP Dies Aged 77

Merton Conservatives have paid tribute to Dame Angela Rumbold, who died at the weekend at the age of 77.

Dame Angela (left), a former Conservative Education Minister and party vice-chairman, was MP for Mitcham and Morden from 1982-1997.

Best remembered for her time as an education minister, she continued working to improve schools after leaving politics.

She was a former Chair of Governors of Wimbledon High School, as well as being on the governing bodies of schools in Oxshott, Tolworth, Surbiton, Knightsbridge and Mill Hill.

A mother-of-three, Rumbold was the first woman to be put in charge of recruiting and scrutinising would-be Tory candidates. After losing her seat in the landslide Labour victory of 1997, she also chaired the United Learning Trust, an Anglican charity and the largest sponsor of academies in the UK.

Councillor Debbie Shears, Leader of the Conservative Opposition in Merton, said:  "I was extremely saddened to learn of Dame Angela's death at the weekend. First and foremost, she will be remembered as a well respected Member of Parliament who worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of Mitcham and Morden.

"During her time as an MP and government minister, she did a great deal to put our area on the map. On behalf of Merton Conservatives, I offer my sincere condolences to her family."

June 21, 2010