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| Coun Andrew Jones, High Harrogate Date: 23/04/2008 09:22:17 |
| Lilian was a wonder. No-one achieved more for the community. Her public service started many years ago as a councillor, but it is for her work as Chair of the Civic Society and the Royal Hall Restoration Trust that she will justly be remembered. The Royal Hall is now fully restored to its former glory, but without Lilian we would not be enjoying it for the magnificent building it is. The energy and enthusiasm she brought were inspiring, and the success she achieved shows she inspired so many to contribute. Our town is simply a better place to live thanks to Lilian’s work. It is desperately sad that she died just a few days before the Inaugural Gala on Sunday, but she will be there in spirit, and we have the Royal Hall in its full splendour with which to remember a marvellous lady. |
| Coun John Fox, Granby Date: 23/04/2008 09:21:21 |
| We shall remember Lillian Mina for her commitment, dedication and enthusiasm. Without her selfless dedication the Royal Hall would not have reopened to the public in its former glory. |
| Anne Smith, Pannal Date: 22/04/2008 21:55:54 |
| So sorry to hear of Lilian's death. She fought a long and courageous battle. I have known her for many years and I had thought she was indefatigable. As long as the Royal Hall is there she will be remembered. Of all the stars that appeared there Lilian was the biggest of them all. Our sympathy goes to Mitzi and Howard. |
| Malcolm Neesam Date: 22/04/2008 17:23:56 |
| Well - she's gone from us, and Harrogate is poorer for the loss. To those of us who knew her, and stood with her in January in the Royal Hall as she waited to greet the Prince of Wales, it seems as though only a few hours have passed. Many have their own, very special memories of Lilian and mine began in the early 1980's, when as the newly elected Councillor Taff (as she was then known), Lilian was introduced to me by Council leader Alec MacCarroll, who always had an eye for a capable and pretty woman. At that time Lilian represented a Knaresborough ward, although she later moved to Harrogate, and what was evident from the start was her enthusiasm for her surroundings and her desire to protect and enhance them. I recall with special reverence her taking up the cause of the fire damaged Lowther Arcade, the last such in Harrogate, and her attempts to save this lovely feature from the developers and wreckers. Lilian lost that battle, and the community is poorer for the loss, but the experience made her determined not to lose again. She certainly breathed new life into the Harrogate Civic Society, which went from strength to strength under her Chairmanship. But it was her Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees for the restoration of the Royal Hall that saw Lilian reach the heights of success, including that memorable day when she accompanied HRH Prince Charles on his tour of the building, when the audience was touched by Prince Charles' obvious concern for her well-being . Her past experience as an astute business woman aided her with fund-raising, as did her ability to communicate with influential people and win them over to the Royal Hall cause. For Lilian, everyone - no matter how initially hostile - was a potential ally. And how wrong she showed her opponents to be. It was Lilian's gift that whenever she believed in something, she became a determined enthusiast, and used all her talent as a charming, elegant. vivacious, sociable and persuasive personality to achieve her ends. During her time in Harrogate, it seemed to some that a new and dazzling feature had appeared in our skies. Indeed, there were those, including myself, who sometimes found Lilian a "handful". I had several fallings-out with Lilian over local matters, but we always remained friends because we knew that each of us had the welfare of the district at heart. In terms of both the Civic Society and the Royal Hall Trust, Lilian was an asset. She would have made a wonderful mayor, and I am amazed that our council insists on keeping this post to itself. Our community is full of the most brilliant people from the worlds of business, commerce, the arts and sciences, who would make stunning mayors, and I think that Lilian would have been one of them. But sadly, the chance has now been lost. For me, Lilian was not just a friend, but an inspiration, and for the citizens of the district, it was she who gave them back their Royal Hall, restored to a splendour that will stupify its visitors. Her final illness was bravely borne. A few weeks ago, I visited London's St. Paul's Cathedral, where, as ever, I was moved by the Latin inscription to Sir Christopher Wren "if you seek his monument, look around you". Those words, with very slight alteration, can now be applied to Lilian Mina and the Royal Hall.The entire community will surely mourn her passing - it certainly owes her much. The District has lost a true friend, and there must be many, including those who never met her, who will wish to join the Harrogate Advertiser is sending condolences to her loved ones. |
| Coun Mike Gardner, Leader, Harrogate Borough Council Date: 22/04/2008 17:15:32 |
| Our hearts and prayers go out to Howard and Lilian’s family. They have been through a terrible few months as Lilian fought her brave battle for life. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Lilian would say that everything she did she did with flair and passion. And none more so than those involved with Lilian through her work with the Harrogate Civic Society, the council and latterly the Royal Hall Restoration Trust. Those of us lucky enough to be at the Royal Hall when the building was officially re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales could only marvel at Lilian’s resolve and strength of character that got her through that day. Nothing was going to stop her personally showing Prince Charles the results of a magnificent fund-raising effort that she led so majestically. We are all so proud of what she achieved and her final testament is that the Royal Hall has once again become a glittering palace of worldwide acclaim. Her likeness is forever captured in the fabric of the Royal Hall and her memory will forever live there. She is going to be greatly missed. |
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