A FORMER Greenham Common campaigner and one of Wrexham’s best-known battlers for peace and justice, has died.

Myra Hughes, 77, of Penycae died on Sunday following a short illness.

Mrs Hughes, who is survived by her children, Heather, James, Stephanie and Karl, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren, was well known and respected in the Wrexham area for championing people’s rights.

Speaking for her sister and two brothers as well as herself, Mrs Hughes’ elder daughter Heather said: “Mum would give you her last, and she always went with her instincts.

“If she saw something wrong she’d do her best to rally people round and, if possible, get things put right. Nor was there any self-interest involved.

“Mum was a real character, with an infectious laugh, and always had a twinkle in her eye. She was what I would call an ‘old school socialist’, genuine and
committed to all the causes she campaigned for.”

Heather revealed that her mother, who was born and bred in Rhos, was actually imprisoned nine times due to her actions as part of peaceful protests.

In fact Mrs Hughes lived at Greenham Common for a total of five years, taking only short breaks for respite from the gruelling conditions at the camp.

In 1991 she involved herself in the Anti Poll Tax Federation’s “Can’t pay, won’t pay” campaign, and nearer to home she fronted a protest after bus services from
Wrexham to Penycae were under threat of severe cuts in 1998.

The following year she led the fight to save the old Victorian vicarage in Penycae, and she began the new millennium fronting the campaign to save the closure-threatened Coed-y-Graig Community Centre in the same village.

The year 2001 saw her joining the anti-Iraq War protest rally, while she also took action as chairman of the Penycae Tenants and Residents Association, including fighting for lollipop ladies and protesting about crime, drugs and rowdy behaviour in the local area.

Mrs Hughes will be cremated today at Pentrebychan at 10am. After the cremation friends are invited to the Stiwt in Rhos to celebrate her life.v