Former Midhurst county councillor Nola Hendon dies after fall

Nola was county councillor for Midhurst from 2005-2012 through a turbulent period which saw the setting up of the Midhurst Rother College academy, the fight to save Rogate Primary School and the controversial loss of the county council funded day care facilities at the former Grange in Midhurst.

In 2007 Nola chaired a group set up to look at how dementia services could be developed and improved.

She was the natural choice because both of her parents, George and Eileen, had been affected by the disease.

George had been tournament director of the Eastbourne International Tennis Tournament from 1980 to 2000 seeing Tracey Austin win in his first year at the helm and Martina Navratilova taking 11 singles titles. Nola was always a great supporter of his work.

A by election was called when she announced her decision to resign in July 2012 and move to Minorca with Peter. Town councillors thanked her for her work particularly in ensuring Midhurst became part of the new South Downs National Park and also for working to keeping the new school building in Midhurst.

Nola was also former chairman of the Chichester Conservative Association. Current chairman Robert Searle said: “Nola will be remembered for the notable and dedicated service she provided in public life and to the Conservatives in these roles.”

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