Congratulating Gilesgate, Pelaw and St. Nicholas branch member  Peggy Harker on receiving the 2009 Long Service Award from Labour North, Constituency Women's Officer Esther Ashby paid tribute to Peggy's dedication and hard work for the Party.

She thanked Peggy, who will be 90 in September, for being such a strong model for younge members in the Constituency. For fifty years, like other women of her generation she had supported Labour's values despite the depression, teo world wars, the destruction of the mining industry and countless party crises.

Her example was a beacon for members today when their faith and commitment faltered in the face of events abroad and wobbles at Westminster.

"When we wake up in the morning and listen to the news or read the papers, instead of wondering whether today is the day we finally say ' enough is enough ', we remember Peggy  and other women like her who stayed put thorough much tougher times  and made sure the struggle for Labour's ideals was carried forward".

'Making the tea and doing the social side are no longer seen as key parts of party campaigning Women's Sections - like the one in Gilesgate  of which Peggy was a core member - were often the glue holding the Branches together and rooting the Party in the local community.

On behalf of the Constituency Women's Forum Esther presented Peggy with a bunch of Red Roses and a mounted copy of newspaper articles from 1983 reporting Peggy's part in reviving the historic Pelaw Women's banner.

A truly fitting and permanent way to mark the efforts of Peggy and other local women members would be if the banner could be found a safe permanent home.