Tribute to a former High Peak Mayor

Elizabeth Jane Inglefield, known as Jane, died at the beginning of the month in a hospital in Spain.

The 77-year-old was a well known face around Buxton as she was a ward councillor for nearly two decades from 1973 to 1994.

She became Mayor of Buxton and High Peak Borough from 1994 to 1995.

Son David Allan said: “That was probably her proudest moment of her career, she had such a sense of civic pride and worked hard for the town.”

Before becoming involved in politics Jane married James Allan in 1960 and had three sons, Mark, Andrew and David.

Other notable appointments included serving as chairman of High Peak Borough Council.

She was also the first woman to be appointed chairman of the National Society of Clean Air, a charity which campaigned to make London a cleaner place.

Jane remarried in 1977 to Peter Inglefield and in 1983 she obtained a degree in nursing from Sheffield Hallam University.

She then worked for the Marie Curie Foundation from 1984 as regional manager of Nursing for the North West for 14 years.

“Mum was a huge fan of opera and jazz,” said David “and was one of several local councillors who lobbied for the refurbishment of the Buxton Opera House in the late 1970s.

David said:“She campaigned to save this architectural gem from an uncertain future and was so pleased that the Opera House continues to play such a prominent role in the town’s cultural scene.”

Jane was a friend of the Gilbert and Sullivan society and actively promoted the D’Oyly Carte company which later became a centre-piece of the Buxton Opera festival during the 1980s and 1990s.

David said: “She helped and supported the Buxton festival, which is now one of the UK’s largest opera based festivals.”

Jane, was also a member of the twinning associations for both Oignies and Bad Nauheim and travelled extensively to both locations. In 1994 she was invited as Mayor of Buxton.

In 1987 Jane moved out of the area and set up and ran a nursing home in Newcastle-Under-Lyme with her husband and brother which upon retirement was sold.

She retired from nursing in 2006 and spent her last years living in Spain with her husband.

“She was a wonderful mother,” said David “and a wonderful grandmother to her six grandchildren.

“She fought for Buxton and had such a sense of civic duty in all she did.”

Later in the year her sons will arrange a memorial to celebrate her life and civic contribution to Buxton.