TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Dorset’s most respected political and community figures.

Judy Jamieson, the Conservative party agent for Christchurch for more than three decades, died on Wednesday at the Macmillan Unit after a battle with cancer. She was 66.

Judy was also chairman of Burton Parish Council and chairman of governors at the Priory School in Christchurch for many years. She was made an MBE for her services to politics, was given the title of Honorary Freeman of Christchurch last year and had a key role on the national political stage.

Judy, a great friend of the Daily Echo, was instrumental, with her husband Cllr Colin Jamieson, in starting up the annual Armed Forces Day in Burton and campaigned tirelessly on a range of community issues. She had worked for the Conservatives since the 1960s and was appointed agent for Christchurch and Lymington in 1985. The seat later became Christchurch and East Dorset and has been represented by Chris Chope since 1997.

Judy was a national figure for the Conservatives, on first name terms with Prime Ministers from Ted Heath to Margaret Thatcher, through to John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May. She was elected chairman of the party’s national agents’ organisation in 1993, only the third woman in its then 101-year history to take the position.

Mr Chope said: “It is so sad that Judy has been taken from us when she had so much more still to give. I have known her since 1983 when she looked after my campaign in Southampton and has been part of the family.”

The MP broke the news to Theresa May yesterday. “She was saddened,” he said.

“She said Judy had given her lots of advice when she was a prospective parliamentary candidate in the 90s.”

Christchurch mayor Cllr Trish Jamieson, a close friend, said: “She was a very kind and generous person and that came across in everything she did. She was a legend. Politics will not be the same without her.”

Canon Charles Stewart of Christchurch Priory said: “Judy was an outstanding chair of governors. It quickly became obvious to me just how hard she worked in so many ways to make people’s lives better. She will be greatly missed at both the school and at the church.”

See next Friday’s Echo and next week’s Christchurch Times for a full obituary.