Former Stonehouse mayor Mattie Ross has been remembered as a “formidable” public servant who devoted decades to improving council housing and the lives of residents across the district.
Mattie died on Tuesday, November 3, aged 80. The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-five had served as both a Stonehouse mayor and a Stroud District Councillor.
Her contribution was recalled by Cllr Steve Robinson, who represents the Nailsworth Ward and worked alongside her on Stroud District Council for 20 years. He said Stonehouse was consistently at the centre of her thinking whenever councillors discussed improvements or problems affecting communities across the district.
A long-standing focus on housing
According to Cllr Robinson, council housing was Mattie’s particular passion. Her work included supporting the construction of new homes for local people and campaigning for improvements to the condition of existing housing stock.
One issue that particularly motivated her was the policy affecting pets in sheltered housing. Cllr Robinson recalled that Mattie challenged what she regarded as an unfair situation in which older residents could not take their animals with them when moving into sheltered accommodation.
Her challenge led to the policy being changed, allowing residents to keep their pets. Cllr Robinson said the issue reflected Mattie’s personal love of animals as well as her determination to stand up for older people.
“Mattie was a formidable woman. She had that way about her that when she spoke, you listened – and woe betide you if you didn’t!”
‘We must get our housing stock up to a higher standard’
Cllr Robinson also remembered a message Mattie repeated regularly as she pressed for better standards in council homes.
“On many occasions I heard her say: ‘We must get our housing stock up to a higher standard.’”
Her approach, he said, helped residents across the district. He paid tribute to the number of people who benefited from her years of public service, while acknowledging the loss felt by those who knew her.
“Mattie will be sorely missed by all those who knew her. So many residents will have benefitted from her service as a District Councillor over so many years.”
He added that his thoughts were with Mattie’s family following her death.
“Our thoughts are with Mattie’s family at this sad time.”
