TRIBUTES have been paid to two former Barking and Dagenham councillors who have passed away. Joan Foster died of a stroke at the age of 85 on August 23. Ronwen Beadle died aged 79 on September 3 after a long battle with cancer. Mrs Foster was a Labour cou

TRIBUTES have been paid to two former Barking and Dagenham councillors who have passed away.

Joan Foster died of a stroke at the age of 85 on August 23. Ronwen Beadle died aged 79 on September 3 after a long battle with cancer.

Mrs Foster was a Labour councillor for Valence ward between 1982 and 1986. As well as serving on various council committees, she was involved with the Dagenham Old People's Welfare Association, NSPCC (Barking and Dagenham Committee), Uphill and Waters Education Foundation, Dagenham YMCA and a number of school governing bodies.

Cllr John Davis described Mrs Foster as a "hardworking councillor who struggled for the working classes."

He added: "Her husband and I worked at Ford together and lived around the corner from each other, so I knew her well. She was very dedicated to her family and the community."

Mrs Beadle was elected as Liberal councillor for Gascoigne ward between 1982 and 1994. She served on various committees, was on the Barking and Dagenham Council for Racial Equality and was a governor of Faircross and Castle Schools.

The Mayor, Cllr Charles Fairbrass, described Mrs Beadle, who was awarded Freedom of the Borough in 2003, as a "very good councillor who did an awful lot for people in the borough."

He added: "Even after she retired from her role as councillor she continued to work tirelessly for the community."

Mrs Foster was buried at Corbets Tey, Upminster on September 4 and Mrs Beadle was cremated at the City of London Crematorium on September 14.