A eulogy by my Son, Andrew and Lee's sister, Susannah

In loving memory of Lee Polshaw, nee Beverley Cardash. Lee was born and raised in North West London by her mum Leila, dad Alan and stepdad Howard. She was part of the Jewish community and started her early life doing youth work. In her later life she discovered she was dyslexic and so did not follow her older sister, Susannah to university after school and did a variety of jobs before spending most of her twenties working for Cartier jewellers as a receptionist.

Following redundancy she did a BTEC in Social Care before coming to North Staffordshire to study Criminology at Keele University in 1995. There she met Andy in 1996 and they were married in Hampstead, London in 1998 and bought a house in Trent Vale shortly afterwards. Lee has worked locally in administration for the university, Stoke-on-Trent College, the NHS and found her calling in probation where she worked as probation service officer in Winsford.

Her physical health fluctuated but slowly declined over the past 17 years where she lived with her husband, Andy, in Penkhull. Although constantly hating party politics, Lee constantly fought for what she believed in ethically and politically and helped people in need in any way that she could. Lee also stood as the Labour Candidate in the Penkhull & Stoke By-election and, although her arthritis meant she couldn’t campaign much herself and lost by a few votes, she did that hoping to help her neighbours in any way she could. Although Lee never wanted one, she bought a mobility scooter and could be seen in the past couple of years, sometimes with a megaphone in hand, at anti-fascist and other protests as well as knocking on residents doors asking in her and other wards while campaigning..

Andy & Lee celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in July on a 3 week road trip through France and Italy, which sadly turned out to be Lee’s last adventure in life. Lee’s early diagnosed COPD worsened and was sleeping more after her return. Lee died suddenly and unexpectedly of a cardiac arrest on 23 August.

Lee was fearless, feisty and strong; far more than should be capable of someone of her short stature and dwindling health. Everyone who met her, remembers her. Everyone she chose to spend time with would love her. She was a firebrand whose fire has unexpectedly gone out but whose light will be shared by all who loved her.

Rest in Peace you beautiful and forever unique lady