Tributes after death of St Hilda's campaigner Maureen Woodier
by Andrew Pain, Evening Gazette
Sep 30 2011
A COMMUNITY stalwart has died - four months to the day after her husband of 55 years died.
Maureen Woodier, the oldest resident on Middlesbrough’s St Hilda’s estate - or “over the border” - died at James Cook University Hospital on Sunday aged 72.
Maureen became well-known during her high-profile battle with Middlesbrough Council over the redvelopment of St Hilda’s - becoming one of the last people to live in the area.
Her husband Henry “Dando” Woodier died in the same hospital on May 25 aged 75.
Both had been diagnosed with lung cancer on the same day at the beginning of March.
Today Maureen’s loved ones paid tribute to the lady who was the rock of their family.
Son Steve Woodier, 49, said: “She was a very strong woman. She fought her illness for four months and she wouldn’t give in.
“All she was worried about was leaving the family behind and who was going to look after us. She was the rock of our family.”
Maureen was born and raised on Middlesbrough’s Rock Street, which was near to where Cineworld in the town centre now stands, and met Dando as a teenager.
The pair married 55 years ago and moved to Richmond Street 36 years ago where they lived for the rest of their lives.
As well as their eight children - Olwyn, 54, Tony, 52, Peter, 50, Steve, 49, Billy, 47, Kenny, 45, Lulu, 42, and Jackie, 41 - the couple had a total of 72 grandchildren and great grandchildren at last count.
The family home is one of only a handful left in St Hilda’s which is undergoing massive redevelopment.
The once-thriving area has mostly been demolished under regeneration plans.
But the couple defied the bulldozers and despite years of wrangling with Middlesbrough Council they couldn’t be persuaded to move out of the home they owned outright.
The couple often featured in the Gazette throughout their lives and were well-known community figures.
Together they raised money for various charities and organised day trips, fun days and street parties for the people of St Hilda’s.
And late in life Maureen was re-born as a star of the screen, featuring in the documentary Over The Border.
As the area’s oldest resident she had been asked to attend as a special guest at next month’s 100th anniversary celebrations for the Transporter Bridge.
Brother Dave Connor, 65, also paid tribute. He said: “They said a legend died when Dando passed away but Maureen is a legend herself in any case.”
Maureen’s funeral will take place next Tuesday with a service at 1.30pm at Sacred Heart Church followed by internment at Thorntree Catholic Cemetery.
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