A former mayoress of Richmond will be remembered for her dedication to charitable causes.
Annette Waldman (née Leon), who died on December 23 at the age of 100, devoted decades of her life to public service and community support in the borough.
Born in Kew in March 1925, she became mayoress of Richmond in 1966, serving alongside her father, Hymie Leon, during his third term as mayor of the newly expanded borough.
Her son Philip Waldman said: "She was very invested in charitable works in Richmond and served as mayoress with her father Hymie Leon in 1966/67."
Mrs Waldman's childhood was spent at 236 Kew Road with her parents Hymie and Phoebe Leon.
She attended Broomfield House School before moving on to St Paul’s Girls’ School.
At 18, she was called up for service during the Second World War and assigned to the War Office, but a serious accident resulted in her being invalided out for nearly a year.
She married Leonard Waldman on March 2, 1949, and together they raised three children, four grandchildren, a step-granddaughter, and five great-grandchildren.
Her year as mayoress began a lifetime of volunteer work, with involvement in organisations including the National Council of Women, Richmond Mencap, and the Jewish School for Deaf Children. She was best known for her work with Arthritis Care.
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A founding member and chairman of the Richmond branch from 1968, she helped grow it from 45 members to 350, making it the largest in the country.
She led the branch for more than 30 years, and its ultimate disbandment by changes in the organisation by Head Office was much to her regret.
Despite this, she continued to support those she served by helping to establish the Endeavour Club, which carried on Arthritis Care’s work in a more limited capacity.
Her long service also included time as a magistrate in Kingston-upon-Thames from 1968 to 1982, as well as trustee and committee roles with Richmond Mencap’s Hostel ’69 project and the Silver Birches Home.
Mrs Waldman’s wider charitable commitments included the McMillan Cancer Fund in Barnes, where she served as vice chairman from 1982 to 1986.
She was a life patron of the Royal British Legion Club in Richmond. Herself a recipient of the Silver Jubilee Medal and an MBE, Mrs Waldman approach to charity work was both hands-on and deeply personal.
Philip Waldman added: "Not only did the club provide support and assistance to those that needed, they organised monthly teas for everyone who could attend, including organising volunteer drivers and ambulances. The gatherings would include a pop-up shop to buy essentials and an afternoon of tea and entertainment.
"Additionally every year they organised for some members to go on holiday and attend events such as Wimbledon securing passes to the disabled section of the show courts."
Mrs Waldman nursed her husband through dementia and eventually stepped back from active volunteering.
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