It is with profound sadness that we have to announce the passing of Saxon Spence, CBE, aged 95. She was Honorary Freeman of the City of Exeter, in recognition of her support and promotion of the interests of the city and its residents during her eminent service as member of Devon County Council.

Saxon joined the Labour Party in 1945 and was the Leader of the Labour Group on Devon County Council for many years. She was still serving both Exeter & Devon District Co-Operative Party and Devon County Local Government Committee as Secretary until age 93, and driving an ambitious agenda with gusto. She was still debating and voting at an Exeter Labour meeting only last week, notwithstanding her final illness.

Veteran Devon councillors across the benches refer to the encouragement and inspiration she provided to them when entering local politics as idealistic young Devonians.  You can hear Saxon reflect on her varied political history in her own words here https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/from-the-grassroots/research/interviews/spence-saxon-cbe-1929

Her willing ear, ready word of advice and energetic good humour is a great loss to the LGC and the Labour Group, and we will miss her deeply.