Paul Matthews, MCC Chief Executive:
“It is with the deepest sense of sadness that I share the news of the passing of former County Councillor Sheila Woodhouse. Sheila had been ill for several months and passed peacefully this week.

Sheila was an amazing woman. She served as Chairperson of Monmouthshire County Council on two separate occasions, a rare honour. She provided leadership through the most challenging moments of the COVID Pandemic. Sheila absolutely got that it was all about protecting life at that time and other things just had to wait. She was a huge source of strength and support to me and so many others.

Sheila was a member of several Council Committees and was involved in more voluntary activity than I can come close to cataloguing. Sheila performed her roles within the Council with diligence and grace. She was always prepared but never fixed. She was openminded and always interested in the opinions of others.

Sheila knew what it meant to be a Monmouthshire County Councillor. She loved her Ward and her town of Abergavenny with a passion but always understood that at times she had to see a bigger picture. She was always prepared to do so. She was calm, kind, caring and welcoming. As good an ambassador as we have ever had particularly in her years as First Citizen, a role that she felt honoured to hold.

I had the pleasure of working with Sheila personally. I loved it. I got to see the warmth of a very special woman. More than that I got to see the depth of her professionalism born of an earlier career in the Post Office. Sheila had standards and you just always wanted to match them. On many an occasion after chairing a Council meeting Sheila would ask me “Did I do ok”. She wanted to do her best. My answer was always “you were perfect” – I just felt she was.

A bright light in the history of our organisation has dimmed today but it hasn’t gone out. For those of us that Sheila touched, her warmth will stay in our hearts. God speed Sheila to a pain free place.

I will pass on the condolences of the organisation to Sheila’s husband Chris and to her family and friends. We will be there to support them in any way they wish over the coming weeks and months.”