Medlin Lewis-Spencer, former Mayor of Hackney and community champion. (The Voice Archives)

Tomorrow marks eleven years since the passing of Medlin Lewis-Spencer, a woman whose life reflected courage, conviction, and compassion. Her story remains a reminder of what it means to lead with integrity and serve with love.

Born on April 28, 1951, in Jamaica, Medlin came to the United Kingdom as a teenager, moving to Bristol at just 13 years old with her twin sister. Like so many of the Windrush generation, she arrived in a country still learning how to open its doors and hearts to the Caribbean community. She not only found her place. She helped shape it.

Before entering public life, Medlin trained and worked as an intensive care nurse, dedicating herself to healing others in the most literal sense. Her warmth and professionalism earned her deep respect, both inside and outside the hospital. She also became Miss British West Indies, embodying grace and pride in her heritage during a time when representation for Black women in public life was rare.

But Medlin’s lasting mark came through public service. In 1988, she made history as Hackney’s first Black female mayor, breaking barriers in London politics. Her term from 1988 to 1990 was defined by energy and empathy . She championed racial equality, community support, and local enterprise, always with an open door and a personal touch.

She was known for quietly helping those in need, often reaching into her own pocket to support constituents or struggling families. Medlin didn’t wait for bureaucracy — she acted. She believed that if you had the means to help someone, you should.

One story that captures her spirit perfectly: she helped the now world-famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo at the beginning of his career. Medlin saw potential where others saw uncertainty. So if women around the world adore their Jimmy Choo shoes today, they can thank not only Jimmy’s talent and hard work, but also Medlin’s generosity and faith in giving others a start.

Medlin’s political journey was also one of independence and principle. Originally a Labour councillor, she made a bold decision in 1994 to join the Conservative Party, later winning the Northfield ward. The only ward in London (outside of Brent) that Labour lost to the Conservatives that year. It was a rare and courageous move that reflected her commitment to representing her community, not just following party lines.

When Medlin passed away suddenly on October 12, 2014, at the age of 63, it was a shock to all who knew her. Yet her influence still ripples through Hackney and beyond. I personally was devastated, loosing an ally, friend and family. Through the people she mentored, the doors she opened, and the communities she strengthened.

For me, Medlin was more than a remarkable public servant. She was my sister-in-law. From the moment I joined the family, she always had my back. She inspired me deeply, in her strength, in her kindness, and in her ability to move through the world with quiet authority.

It isn’t easy being a Black woman, or in my case a mixed-race woman, marrying into a white British family. Medlin understood those dynamics instinctively. How they can mirror the broader challenges UK society still struggles with. She made those spaces less lonely. She showed by example that identity and courage can coexist with grace.

Eleven years on, her life reminds us that leadership is not about power or position; it’s about presence. Medlin Lewis-Spencer led by showing up for people. She listened, she cared, and she built bridges where others built walls. In remembering her today, I celebrate not only her achievements but her humanity. The kind that London, and the world, always needs more of.

Thank you Medlin Lewis-Spencer, her family, twin sister Rose, her brother the eloquent storyteller, and her amazing Preacher sister from the USA.

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