Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE offered condolences to the family and friends of former Ceremonial Mayor and Councillor Marie Collier on behalf of everyone at Newham Council, following the announcement of her sad passing.
Marie Collier served as a Councillor for sixteen years, having been elected as a Labour candidate in 1998, serving local communities in Canning Town North. A former Chair of Council, she also served as Chair of five scrutiny committees and helped shape Council policy across subjects as diverse as the night-time economy, recycling waste policy and housing.
She was elected deputy Civic Mayor in 1999 and Civic Mayor in 2000 and was the borough’s first Civic Ambassador for the municipal year 2002 - 2003. In 2016, Marie received the title of Honorary Alderwoman and honoured with the Freedom of the Borough for her public service to the London Borough of Newham. A former patron of the London Mayor’s Association and trustee of the IMPSTART Trust, a charity dedicated empowering young people, Marie was conferred the honour of Freedom of the City by the City of London Corporation.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said: “Marie embodied the qualities of public service, dedicating her life to the residents of Newham for 16 years with passion and honour. Her unflinching commitment to the borough made her a wonderful ambassador for Newham and she will be missed by so many. On behalf of Councillors and everyone at the council my deepest condolences to her family. Our thoughts are with them all and especially to her devoted husband Bryan.”