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Sunday 6 March 2016

Jo Frith: a ‘tour de force’ in the Sidmouth community

Jo Frith has been at the centre of many initiatives in the Sid Valley over the past decade:
Futures Forum: Tidal Reef at Port Royal
Futures Forum: The future of tidal power... in Sidmouth
Futures Forum: The future of tidal power >>> Pennington Reef >>> a proposal for protection from coastal flooding for Sidmouth
and:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Beach Management Plan Steering Group - report
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Beach Management Plan >>> "renewed call for evidence from Sidmouth people to provide details of their personal knowledge of the beach and cliffs"
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Beach Management Plan >>> "Your views on potential solutions would be appreciated"
and:
Futures Forum: Recycling and Refuse in East Devon >>> fortnightly collection of AHP to be part of upcoming trial
and:
Futures Forum: A flood plan for Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Long-term planning for flooding in the West Country

From this month's Vision Group newsletter:

This month we start with the sad news that Jo Frith, a stalwart of the VGS, has died. Everyone remembers Jo as a friendly face who spoke sensibly and with intelligence. She was particularly committed to the Coastal Management Plan. She was also the person who went outside in all weather to advertise the Market with her brightly coloured pole as well as providing a delicious fruit cake each month for the refreshments. We shall all miss her.

If you wish to leave your thoughts in memory of Jo, please email them to info@visionforsidmouth.org and we will seek publish them.


Vision Group for Sidmouth - VGS News Update

And from the Herald:

‘Wonderful soul Jo will be deeply missed’


06:30 06 March 2016 Stephen Sumner






















Jo Frith pointing the way to the monthly VGS farmers market

Friends, family and collaborators in all manner of local ventures have shared their memories of a ‘tour de force’ in the Sidmouth community.

Countless tributes have poured in for Jo Frith (pictured), who died last week.

On her retirement from a career in IT, mainly with IBM, Jo brought to the town, and Devon more widely, her keen analytical mind, together with wit, good humour and immense kindness.

She had served as a councillor in the London borough of Richmond - and that insight into government made her an invaluable conduit between the Vision Group for Sidmouth (VGS) and local decision-makers.

Her commitment to environmental sustainability led her to be the secretary of various organisations over the past decade, from East Devon Green Energy to the Independent East Devon Alliance (EDA). Many residents may have known her simply as the cheerful holder of a sign in the High Street, pointing the way to the monthly VGS farmers’ market.

Her friend, Robert Crick, said: “Behind the scenes, Jo pointed the way to many other projects to preserve and enhance our town and the future survival of our species.”

Her experience in Iceland and elsewhere gave her a unique insight on erosion and coastal management on the Jurassic Coast, and she was a fund of knowledge on innovative renewable energy projects that could be profitably applied to the coastline.

She worked indefatigably to encourage local government to take action on flood management and to reduce the risks of flooding from rivers, sea and rainfall.

Recently, she was representing the VGS on the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan (BMP). Its chairman, Councillor Andrew Moulding, paid tribute to her ‘exceptional contribution’, saying: “Jo’s attention to detail was second-to-none and she offered great insight into the BMP process.”

Robert added: “Her personal life exemplified her ethical commitment to life on earth. Her early decision not to have children was a gesture against over-population that also freed her for service to the wider community.”

In recent years, she made her home in Fortfield Terrace, where neighbouring flats were occupied by her 95-year-old father John, her sister Gita and her nephew Duncan. With her extended family, she strove to enhance the Fortfield Terrace community, not only artistically, but also by sharing resources and demonstrating models of energy efficiency.

Another friend, Jackie Green - who led Jo’s campaign when she stood for a district council by-election in 2005 - said the formerly neglected property is once again ‘a fine and prominent local asset’, thanks to their efforts. She added: “Above all, Jo made a difference.”

EDA chairman Paul Arnott paid tribute to Jo as ‘a wonderful soul who will be very deeply missed as a friend and as an outstanding, fair-minded, courteous and extremely witty activist’.

Jo died suddenly last Wednesday (February 24) at the age of 71 after cycling to Sidford in the sunshine. Following a post-mortem, there will be a quiet family interment at the graveside. In a few months’ time, there will be a public celebration of her life.


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