Councillor Margaret Atkinson, Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council has died.
Cllr Atkinson was the Conservative member for Kirkby Malzeard on the County Council and was a Harrogate councillor representing Fountains and Ripley ward.
She was also a member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s joint advisory committee.
She grew up on a farm at North Stainley, near Ripon, with three older brothers and a younger sister.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les told us of her passion and drive for the county was second to none.
“Margaret’s passing is such sad and tragic news, and a huge loss to not just the county council, but North Yorkshire as a whole. She embraced the role of the council’s chair with the verve and integrity that she became renowned for.
“She was very interested in all the people and groups she met, especially those in the rural communities we serve, as she came from those communities herself, and was a great champion of rural affairs.
“She was a prominent figure in the farming community, and helped so many through her time and caring attitude, including her fundraising work for charity.
“Margaret will be sadly missed by us all at the county council, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this very difficult time.”
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Cllr Atkinson was a semi-retired farmer and also the secretary of the Yorkshire and North-East branch of the British Charolais Cattle Society.
Through her charity work, Cllr Atkinson supported Cancer Research, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a farming charity, the Addington Fund.
Cllr Atkinson, who lived in Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, leaves behind her husband, Michael, and three children and five grandchildren.
Read the tributes at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/…/council-chair…