A LONG-STANDING former councillor and mayor of the city has died at the age of 83.

Ann Norman represented Westdene as a councillor for 23 years from 1996 to 2019, first on the Brighton and Hove Borough Council and then on Brighton and Hove City Council.

She was first elected in 1996, then re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015, serving until her retirement in 2019.

She had followed in the footsteps of her mother Gladys Morrison, who was a councillor in Westdene in the late 1960s, and for much as her time as a councillor she served alongside her husband Ken Norman, who represented the same ward between 2002 and 2019.

Ann took a particular interest in adult social care and finance and was spokeswoman for the Brighton and Hove Conservative Group in these two areas.

She was elected Mayor of Brighton and Hove City Council between 2009 and 2010, and was chairwoman of the Brighton Pavilion Conservative Association on two separate occasions.

Born in 1938, Ann went on to have a long career at the University of Sussex. From 1966 to 1991 she worked in the teaching laboratory area of the School of Mathematics and Physics. It was there she met Ken.

He paid tribute to her, saying she would be “sorely missed for her whole attitude to life and her residents”.

“She loved this area so much having moved into Westdene in the 1960s and never looked back,” he said.

“She was a real example of a councillor and a resident in the city. She was always polite and tried to help anybody do anything. She was so kind to everybody – she never turned anybody away.

“I’ve been touched by calls from many former colleagues and councillors who have said she was hard working and conscientious councillor.”

She passed away at a care facility on Friday, June 10, following a short stay in hospital.

No funeral date has been set for Ann, who had no children.

Conservative Group leader Steve Bell also paid tribute to Ann and her long contribution to the Conservatives and the city.

“Ann was a long-standing member of the Conservative Group and contributed so much over the year,” he said.

“The Conservative Group are so sad at her passing and are supporting Ken at this difficult time.

“She was always passionate about Westdene and her residents and always made sure their voices were heard and made a lasting impression on the city.”

Ann was also a trustee at Martlets for nine years.

Juliet Smith, chairwoman of trustees at Martlets, said: “We are very sad to learn of the death of Ann Norman, who was a trustee of Martlets for nine years, retiring from our board in 2019.

“Ann was a committed trustee and worked collaboratively to ensure good governance of our charity. Her insight, connections and desire to improve the city were of great benefit in helping Martlets achieve our mission of providing life-changing hospice care to the community of Brighton and Hove.

“Ann will be greatly missed by the colleagues who worked closely with her during her time on our board of trustees. On behalf of Martlets, I extend our gratitude for such devoted commitment: our prayers and thoughts are very much with her family and friends.”