Shreela Flather: Tributes to first Asian woman made a life peer

Baroness Shreela Flather was described as a political "trailblazer" by the current mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead

Tributes have been paid to the first Asian woman to be made a life peer following her death earlier this month.

Baroness Shreela Flather was a Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead councillor between 1976 and 1991, serving as mayor in 1986 and 1987.

Appointed a Conservative life peer in 1990, she has been described as a "true trailblazer and dedicated public servant" in both national and local politics.

She died aged 89 on 6 February.

During her career she was credited with campaigning for the Commonwealth Memorial Gates to be installed at Hyde Park Corner to honour volunteer soldiers from the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and the Caribbean who fought in the two world wars.

Councillor Neil Knowles, the mayor of the Royal Borough, said: "Baroness Shreela Flather was a true trailblazer and a dedicated public servant, both locally and nationally, championing important issues including race relations and equality.

"She was a key figure in the community and civic life of our borough for many years and served as a borough councillor for more than a decade, including as mayor.

"She was later recognised nationally, becoming the first Asian woman to sit in the House of Lords, a remarkable achievement."

Labour Bracknell councillor Roy Bailey said: "In the 1980s, when she was the first Asian Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead, she was subjected to regular racist threats and I was assigned to keep a protective eye on her and her family.

"Although our politics were different, we became friends and kept in touch over the years."

News of her death was announced by Baroness Flather's family.

Her maiden name was Rai, which changed when she married barrister Gary Flather, who died in 2017.

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