Tributes paid to former mayor and founding member of Newark Twinning Association

Tributes have been paid to a former town mayor who was a community-spirited and community-minded individual.

Val Picker died recently following an illness.

She was a Labour town councillor and a former mayor of Newark, and was heavily invested in charitable work with the area.

Val was a member of the Newark and District Lions with her late husband Barry and the St Leonard’s Trust, which provides alms houses for the elderly.

She was also a founder member of the Newark Twinning Association.

The Last Night of the Proms celebration at the Palace Theatre, Newark, was a firm fixture in her calendar.

Her long term friend and fellow Labour politician on the town council, Jean Moore said a tragedy of her death was that she would not see the arrival of a community centre at the alms bungalows at Fountain Gardens where she lived.

Val, who was mayor in 1990-91, was said to have campaigned for the addition, which had now been agreed in a temporary building that will be delivered to site.

Miss Moore said: “Val was a very sociable person who enjoyed a function or a get-together.

“She got on well with people and made friends everywhere. Through her twinning association role, she made fast friends with people in Germany and would regularly take part in twinning visits.

“In politics, and in charity work, she was one to put the town first. She also got things done. She was both a community-minded and community-spirited individual. She made valuable contributions to our Labour Group meetings and in discussions at the town council.

“I will miss her.”

Chairman of Newark Twinning Association, Rita Crowe said: “The twinning association were very sad to learn of the passing of a founder member, Val Picker.

“Val was in the delegation on the first visit to Emmendingen in September 1982. Thus began a long friendship with Emmendingen.

“She helped with the organisation of many trips both to and from Emmendingen and subsequent visits to our other Twin Towns, St-Cyr-Sur-Loire and Sandomierz followed, with Val making many friends in all towns.

“Val was the fourth chairman of the association and stepped down in 2006, but continued to serve on the committee.

She will always be remembered for being friendly, her sense of humour and fun, wherever Val was there was always lots of laughter.

“Val will be sadly missed by so many.”

Former Labour councillor Laurence Goff said: “I first knew Mrs Val Picker when I first stood for Newark and Sherwood District Council in 1999 as a candidate. I was grateful for her kindness to me when I became town mayor in 2022 with her support.

“She was a Volunteer at Newark Town Hall Museum for many years. She worked tirelessly and had a heart of gold, promoting Newark, and will be much missed.”

The twin town of Emmendingen wrote in tribute to Val Picker on its website.