TRIBUTES have been paid to Charles Wood, the chairman of local charity, Active and In Touch, after he died on Sunday 16th September.
Nominated for Frome Times’ Person of the Year 2017, Charles was well known in the community for his volunteer work – helping the charity to offer ongoing befriending support to those who feel isolated or lonely in Frome and the surrounding villages.
Active and In Touch coordinator Lucia Chadwick, paid tribute to Charles at last week’s Frome Town Council ‘Town Matters’ meeting, praising Charles as being ‘totally Active & In Touch’. A minute’s silence was also observed at the meeting in his honour.
The Active and In Touch Facebook page posted a tribute to their chairman. It said, “On behalf of our trustees, beneficiaries and volunteers, it is with immense sadness that we have to announce the passing of our wonderful Chairman, Charles Wood, who lost his battle with cancer on Sunday 16th September.
“Charles remained ‘active and in touch’ with us right up until the end. He was a truly remarkable, courageous, kind hearted, principled, and inspirational man who leaves a huge, lasting legacy through the work he did for Active and In Touch, Vision for Frome and other committees and organisations in our community.
“Our thoughts are with his wife and daughters at this difficult time.”
On behalf of Frome Town Council, council leader Kate Bielby said, “We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Charles Wood and extend our sincere sympathies to his wife and family at this most difficult time.
“Charles Wood was well known to many people in Frome as an extremely committed and active citizen. He dedicated his time tirelessly to voluntary work, making a great and positive difference to the lives of others as Chairman of the charity Active and In Touch. He was the force behind an extraordinary piece of public engagement and consultation as Chairman of Vision 4 Frome, resulting in a plan that continues to inform much of our work as the town council today.
“Charles was a member of numerous other committees and groups and he served many years as Chair of the East Somerset Conservative Association. Even in recent years, throughout his illness, he was a regular and respected face at town council meetings, always speaking up and holding the town council to account.
“We will remember Charles as a kind, principled and dedicated man who leaves a lasting legacy through his work and friendship. He is a great loss to our community and we will miss him.”
