A former Manchester councillor who served as the city's Lord Mayor before her husband took on the very same role seven years later has died aged 87. Described as a 'pillar of the community', Sheila Smith, who represented Openshaw at Manchester council for 12 years, died at home on April 29.
She had been in hospital before receiving palliative care at home last month. It comes around three years after her husband John, who also served as Lord Mayor of Manchester during his time as a Newton Heath councillor, also died.
The 'childhood sweethearts' were among a select few to have both served as Lord Mayor in the city and have been described as 'working class champions'.
