Tributes paid to Downham Market councillor and volunteer Jackie Westrop who has died aged 68

Tributes have been paid to a “passionate community volunteer” and “very hard-working councillor” who has died aged 68.

Jackie Westrop, of Downham, died on Sunday, February 16 - but her “aggressive” ovarian cancer did not stop her from helping her community and being involved with a number of local causes.

Having been a borough councillor between 2015 and 2019, Jackie was also a town councillor in Downham until December, as well as president of the town’s Rotary club and a trustee for Downham Dementia.

A spokesperson for Downham Town Council said: “It is with great sadness that I confirm that we have been informed by Cllr Westrop’s family that she died on Sunday, February 16.

“Jackie was a passionate community volunteer. Jackie’s role as councillor was only one of the many organisations within Downham Market and the surrounding villages that Jackie supported following her retirement from the Probation Service.

“Despite Jackie’s aggressive illness, Jackie never gave up and was still working with the council until Christmas 2024 on a project to help Downham Market become dementia friendly.

“Jackie was instrumental in the council achieving the Gold award in the Anglia In Bloom competition in the summer of 2024.”

Two borough councillors have also remembered Jackie for her hard work within the community.

Cllr Alistair Beales, leader of West Norfolk Council, said: “I’m so sad to hear of Jackie’s passing which was something of a shock as I didn’t know she was suffering from ill health.

“We served together between 2025 and 2019 and Jackie was a well-liked and very hard-working councillor.

“She had a heartfelt concern for the more vulnerable among us and represented our community with passion and commitment. I shall miss her.”

Cllr Brian Long, leader of the Conservative group at West Norfolk Council, said: “My thoughts go out to Jackie’s family and friends at this sad time.

“She was a committed councillor and always worked hard for her electorate in Downham Market.”

Meanwhile, Howard Phillips, who was president elect of Downham Market Rotary Club and has now taken up the role of president in her place, said that it was with a “heavy heart” that it announced Jackie’s death.

“Jackie has been fighting cancer for a considerable time and the ravages of that horrible disease and the drastic treatment required slowly ate into her ability to carry on,” he said.

“She announced in December 2024 that she had to step back from duties as a Downham Market Town Council councillor and subsequently the Rotary club as well as other local organisations she was active in.

“Although she had been suffering the debilitating effects of her condition for some considerable time she absolutely insisted on carrying on and keeping busy. Sadly she lost the battle on Sunday 16th February.”

Other Downham Rotarians have also expressed their sadness at Jackie’s death, stating that she had “contributed so much to the town’s life”.

Immediate past president Martin Chilvers said: ”We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Jackie’s family at this difficult time.

“Jackie, who had been a Rotarian for some 10 years, became our president in June 2023 and had agreed to serve a two-year term.

“Sadly, shortly after she assumed the role she was diagnosed with cancer but, in line with her approach to life, she tackled it with great determination and was working hard for the club until her final days.

“She exemplified the Rotary concept of ‘service before self’ and brought her very considerable knowledge of and love for her local community to our club where she had also been welfare officer and vice president.

“She was our third female president and will be sorely missed but long remembered as someone whose life was spent serving her community.”

In her biography on Downham Town Council’s website, Jackie shared that - having been born in East London - she had lived and worked in Downham since the mid-1960s.

Her main employment was in the Probation Service, from which she had retired before taking up new challenges, including being a borough councillor and a member of the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board sub-groups regarding quality assurance and development.

She had also been involved in training in adult safeguarding for community groups when required.

“However, I spend the bulk of my time working with a wide range of community organisations, grant writing and capacity building alongside organising events,” Jackie added.

She said she was “proud” to belong to the town’s Rotary club - of which she was president.

“I firmly believe in the work of the parish council and the power of community to make positive changes, and love talking to residents about their views of what Downham can achieve and look forward to working on DMTC going forward,” Jackie added.

She leaves behind her brother Andrew and his wife.