В Лондоне скорбят по умершей советнице Анни Галлоп, бывшему мэру Ламбета и активистке конного клуба

Lambeth is mourning deeply the sad death this week of Cllr Annie Gallop, a longstanding and much-loved community representative who had served on the council for more than a decade. As a Labour and Co-operative Party representative Cllr Gallop also served as the Mayor of Lambeth in 2021-2022 and was a proud supporter of many local community organisations including The Ebony Horse Club in North Brixton, where she could be found volunteering every Sunday morning. The Ebony Horse Club, of which Queen Camilla is The President, gives disadvantaged inner city young people a platform to grow in confidence and skills, alongside increasing diversity in the equine world. Annie was hugely excited and proud when Khadijah Mellah, who learned to ride at the club, became the first hijab-wearing jockey to compete in a British horse race and went on to win the Magnolia Cup. Growing up in Berkshire, Annie frequently spoke about her experience of riding horses as a young person and the positive impact it had on her. Cllr Claire Holland, the Leader of the Labour Group at Lambeth Council, said: “Annie was a brilliant community representative and a very dear friend. She will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with her family, friends and especially her son Toby, of whom she was immensely proud. “Annie fought to make politics accessible to everyone and led by example to remove barriers to opportunity, and it is clear how cherished and loved she was through the tributes that are pouring in.” Cllr Gallop was first elected to Lambeth Council in 2014 and showed incredible passion for the local environment, supporting rewilding projects, community food growing and encouraging a love of wildlife amongst young people. She faced cancer and years of invasive treatment and consequential disability, with stoicism and courage, and drew on the experience to challenge others on their understanding of the barriers that prevent disabled people from having the same opportunities as others. She also challenged herself, pushed herself harder, her love of life propelling her to be at the heart of whatever was going on. Cllr Gallop spent time as pub landlady in Oval before becoming a councillor and was a long-time resident on the nearby Cowley Estate. She previously served as the estate’s Tenant Management Organisation’s chair and worked hard to improve the lives of young residents in particular. Sadly, Cllr Gallop had experienced ill-health in the past and on being appointed the Mayor of Lambeth in 2021 talked about her previous cancer diagnosis five-years earlier. She said at the time: “I was first elected in 2014 and my biggest satisfaction has been helping people who have gone through similar experiences to me like ill health, depression, financial worries or trying to claim benefits. “I tried to take the things I’ve learned in those situations to help others going through the trauma of understanding the benefit system to get the help they need.” Cllr Martin Abrams, the Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “Annie was a passionate representative embedded in her community who worked on behalf of those with least in our borough. I hail her huge contribution to Lambeth and also send my condolences to her friends, family and loved ones.” Cllr Matthew Bryant, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Lambeth Council, said: “Having served as a councillor alongside Cllr Gallop her commitment to her community and to our borough was clear. She was a strong representative for local people and will be sadly missed by all at Lambeth Council.” Annie’s time as Mayor of Lambeth Council Cllr Annie Gallop served as the Mayor of Lambeth from 2021-2022 and in her outgoing report to council talked about her year in office and what a privilege it had been. She had reflected on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for Lambeth, where she called the community response “inspirational”. She said at the time: “Communities growing together will be our strength going forward.” Cllr Gallop also expressed her gratitude for having been able to attend many events during the Mayoral year including the Dog Show at Streatham Common, which, as a fond lover of animals. she said was a highlight of her Mayoral year as was raising the £7,000 for Ebony Horse club. Cllr Gallop spoke of the club’s work and said: “Young people in Lambeth should have the same life chances as any youth in the country, and it’s our collective responsibility to create those opportunities for all.” [This article and accompanying images first appeared in Love Lambeth and is reproduced here for information purposes]