Maisie Stewart, a long-serving councillor in South Tyneside who founded the North East's first Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising group, died last month at the age of 92.
Maisie, who would have turned 93 on May 18, served as Mayor of Jarrow and Lord Mayor of South Tyneside during a long civic career, and dedicated decades to raising cash for cancer charity Macmillan. Maisie was also a founding member of the Bilton Community Hall in Jarrow.
She started the North East's first Macmillan group in 1973 and spent more 40 years at the helm, though more recently passed on the reins to her niece Beryl Coffey. She lost her husband Ken to cancer, while Beryl, 58, lost both parents to the disease. Maisie had three children - Gillian, Billy and Joan - who also form part of an "army" of eager fundraisers.
