Heartfelt tributes from friends and colleagues in the north-east have poured in for former cabinet minister Dame Tessa Jowell following her death at the weekend.
Dame Tessa, a former student at St Margaret’s School for Girls and Aberdeen University, died on Saturday aged 70 after battling a brain tumour.
A member of both the Blair and Brown Cabinets, the Labour MP was also Minister for the Olympics from 2005 to 2010 – credited for helping bring about London’s successful bid six years ago.
But last night her early life in the Granite City was remembered fondly by friends, colleagues and well-wishers.
St Margaret’s headteacher Anna Tomlinson said: “The St Margaret’s community was greatly saddened yesterday to hear of the death of our esteemed former pupil, Baroness Jowell, who was a pupil at St Margaret’s from 1953 to 1965.
“Tessa Jane Palmer, as she was then known, left St Margaret’s at the end of sixth year to take up a place at Aberdeen University to read psychology and sociology.
“Prefect, netball captain and president of the dramatic society, Tessa contributed a great deal to the life of her school, and we in turn have followed her political career and generous contributions to public life with keen interest and pride.
“She was and will continue to be an inspirational role model for younger generations of St Margaret’s students.”
Dame Anne Begg, the Aberdeen South MP from 1997 to 2015, was in government with Dame Tessa.
She said: “She was the kind of politician I have always aspired to be, she was non-partisan and would work with most people to get results.
“She showed that you can be a nice person and also a politician. “
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, principal of Aberdeen University, where Dame Tessa studied arts, psychology and sociology, said: “The university was deeply saddened by the news of Tessa Jowell’s death and our sympathies are with her family and friends. Her connections with the university were strong.
“Not only was she a graduate, as was her late brother, her father had been a senior member of staff within the medical school.
“We are immensely proud of her association with the university and were greatly honoured when she accepted an honorary degree in 2016.”