A MUCH-LOVED former Cardiff mayor and councillor has died.
Monica Walsh, who died on Sunday, April 28, was a Cardiff Council member between 2004 and 2017 and served residents in Trowbridge and St Mellons.
The former councillor, described by colleagues as a “political warrior” and a “passionate”, “remarkable” and “tough” woman, raised more than £100,000 for cancer research during her time as lord mayor.
A statement put out by Monica’s family on Facebook said she passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday and called her a “devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother”.
They added: “Monica always fought for the underdog and disliked injustice wherever it reared its ugly head.”
Monica moved to Cardiff from Liverpool when she was in her 20s and decided to run for a seat on Cardiff Council after retiring from 32 years of working at the local authority.
Labour and Co-operative MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, Stephen Doughty, said in a statement on social media that his former colleague served her communities and fought the cause of her local area as a lifelong trade unionist and elected representative.
He added: “She adopted Cardiff – and Cardiff took her to its heart through decades of public service.”
Monica was a survivor of domestic violence and she was battling cancer when she became Cardiff’s 112th lord mayor.
Mr Doughty’s statement reads: “Despite her own very tough experiences throughout her life, not least her battles with cancer, they made her even more determined than ever to speak up for others facing hardship, abuse and ill health.”
Another former colleague of Monica’s, Cllr Michael Michael, said he always got on with her and that she fought hard for residents.
Cllr Michael, who is a Labour councillor for Trowbridge, said: “She was instrumental in working with us and trying to get the hub there.
“Before that, she worked hard with people like Alun Michael to get the youth facilities there.
“Even before she was a councillor, she was always solid in representing the residents of the area.
“She was really well liked in the area. [Residents] knew that if they went to her, they would get things done.”
The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, said: “The Labour Group was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Monica.
“She was an ardent Trade Unionist, a Labour Party loyalist to her core, and a highly respected politician who lived and breathed for her Trwobridge and St Mellons constituents.
“She was a political warrior who fought for her communities and always did her utmost to represent the disadvantaged.
“A truly authentic councillor and former Lord Mayor, who fought cancer with the same strength and fortitude which she brought to her political and trade union dealings.
“She will be sadly missed.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with her family.”
Monica’s funeral will take place on Thursday, May 23 at 12.30pm in the Wenallt Chapel at Thornhill Crematorium.
