JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
January 1996
The 11th of November 1995 saw a large collection of civic and university dignitaries in Jericho. They processed from the school to the church to honour Olive Gibbs, without whose fierce defence there would be no residential district of Jericho as we know it. Olive died, aged 77, at the end of September having twice been Lord Mayor and once Lady Mayoress, and also Chair of the County Council. She was first elected to the City Council for West Ward in 1953. In the 1960s, Jericho was zoned for large-scale demolition, replacing houses with light industry. But she campaigned for its preservation, bringing a Labour minister up from London to persuade him instead to renovate the area. Eventually, it was agreed that Jericho would have a gradual improvement plan. Only the properties in the worst condition were replaced, usually with considerable sensitivity. In addition, a new school was built on a different site. Olive became known nationally as Chair of CND. But she refused to sacrifice her family, or desert her city, to go into national politics. Until her death she remained available for counsel and advice. The address was given by Desmond Keohane OBE. Her widower Edmund and members of her family attended.