Tributes to North Herts Council's Judi Billing

Judi, the Labour councillor who represented Hitchin Bearton for 42 years, sadly passed away early this morning (November 24), aged 71

Judi was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Touching tributes have been shared by her colleagues at North Herts Labour. A spokesperson said: "Judi was a Hertfordshire County Councillor for Hitchin North division since 2013 and was the Leader of the Hertfordshire Labour Group.

Judi Billing was a North Herts Councillors since 1980 (Image: North Herts Labour)

"She had served as a district councillor for Hitchin Bearton ward at North Herts Council continuously since 1980 and was the executive member for community engagement.

"She worked across party lines in her role at the Local Government Association to help councillors be effective and to seek to improve local government.

"All of us throughout the Labour Party will greatly miss Judi for her humour, kind-heartedness, and drive to make Hertfordshire a better place for all. We send our deepest condolences to her family and other friends. RIP Judi."

Cllr Ian Albert, Cllr Judi Billing, Cllr Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Steve Crowley, North Herts Council Service Director, Cllr Keith Hoskins, pictured in July this year (Image: North Herts Council)

North Herts Labour colleague Cllr Ian Albert said: “I am totally devastated at the loss of my wonderful friend and colleague Judi Billing.

"I will never forget her support and kindness after my wife died. And Judi's unfailing and extraordinary devotion to service in her community in Hitchin and across Hertfordshire will never be forgotten.

"She helped so many people for more than 40 years. Judi is just irreplaceable. Everyone knew her!

"My heartfelt sympathies go to all her family and friends and her gorgeous dog Pedro at this awful time.

"As councillors, we will try to live up to the standards of service she set for us. RIP Judi. Much love.”

Judi Billing and council leader Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg in Hitchin (Image: North Herts Labour)

North Herts Council leader Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg said: “Words cannot express the loss we are feeling. Judi was a friend, mentor and role model to me, and was always there if I needed help - including loaning her tumble dryer when mine broke.

"I will miss her fierce wit, intelligence and advocacy for Hitchin and our communities. Judi made a difference to so many lives and was truly one of a kind.”

Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage said: “I am heartbroken to learn that my great inspiration, mentor and friend Judi Billing, leader of our county Labour Group and a towering figure of Labour local government, has passed away.

Judi Billing passed away aged 71 on November 24 (Image: North Herts Labour)

"My thoughts and prayers are with her children, grandchildren and great grandchild all of whom she was rightly inordinately proud.

"Judi inspired so many of us as councillors and her work on local government improvement across the country meant she touched (and made better) the way we serve our communities.

"She will be missed as a councillor in Hitchin, at the county council where she led our group with flair and power greater than our numbers would suggest and across the Labour local government family.

"Our movement and local government has lost one of our greatest and most extraordinary champions.”

Judi was a district councillor in North Herts for 42 years (Image: North Herts Labour)

Cllr Ruth Brown, deputy leader of North Herts Council and Liberal Democrat group leader, said: “I am so shocked and saddened to hear of Judi's untimely and sudden death. As part of the joint administration, I worked as Judi’s deputy for community engagement for about two and a half years. I thoroughly enjoyed working so closely with her and learning from her wealth of experience.

"Just last week, she attended the council’s youth democracy event, which she reinstated in 2019. It was such a wonderful event and testament to her passion and dedication to democracy and commitment to encouraging young people to get involved. 

"She served the residents of Hitchin with tireless devotion over many decades as a district and county councillor and she will be sorely missed.”

Cllr Claire Strong, Conservative group leader, said: “I’m very sad to hear the news of Judi's passing and my thoughts are with her family and friends.

"I first met Judi when I joined the council in 1995 and I have always admired her passion for politics and the dedication she gave to all the residents she represented.

"She was committed to communities and worked tirelessly with so many groups to help and support them. Only last week she was leading the workshop for members and officers working together. We will all miss her humour and speeches in the council."