Senior councillor recognised for decades of service

One of Bristol’s longest serving local councillors has been recognised for her decades of public service and community representation.

Helen Holland, Labour councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood, has received an honorary degree from the University of Bristol to mark over 30 years of service to the city.

A former special needs teacher, she was first elected in 1991 to represent Whitchurch Park – before it became Hartcliffe and Withywood due to boundary changes in 2016.

The cabinet member for adult social care and the integrated care system, has held numerous public positions during her time as a councillor including leader of the council.

She said: “I was humbled – but thrilled – when I had the invitation from the University of Bristol to receive this honour. I could not have imagined, when I came here in 1975 for my first teaching job, what lay ahead, and to be in this iconic building today is really the icing on the cake.

“Taking the step in 1991 to put myself forward for election in the ward that I worked in, has given me the privilege of representing the residents and community of Hartcliffe and Withywood, and being re-elected eight times there is the foundation of everything that I have been able to do locally, and informing the many city-wide responsibilities I have had subsequently.

“I am so proud of all that has been achieved over those thirty years, working with fantastic people, transforming Queen Square, delivering the redevelopment of Harbourside and Cabot Circus, bringing a supermarket to Hartcliffe, but it is also the work that is the bedrock of a local councillor’s role, helping individuals with seemingly intractable problems that still brings huge satisfaction.

“So this honour is on behalf of everyone who has been part of my journey.”

Helen has been re-elected at eight consecutive elections and she is currently the city’s longest serving sitting councillor and longest serving sitting elected representative of any party/level in Bristol.

Evelyn Welch, Vice Chancellor of University of Bristol, tweeted: “It was our honour Helen Holland, you have served Bristol City Council and the whole of our city for over three decades, always looking out for those in most need. Congratulations and thank you.”

In addition to Helen’s role in the city council’s Cabinet, she also holds a number of other positions, supporting local organisations to thrive whilst also representing the city at a national level.

Helen chairs the Bristol One City Health and Wellbeing Board, and is chair of the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Partnership. She is also a Governor of Hartcliffe Nursery and Children’s Centre/Hartcliffe Early Years Centre, Director of Hartcliffe and Withywood Ventures at the Gatehouse Centre, Bristol’s Armed Forces Champion, Trustee of Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership, and Member of the Bristol Women’s Commission.

Helen has held a number of senior roles during her time in office.

Helen previously served in the following roles at Bristol City Council: Leader of Council (2007 – 2009); Leader of the Labour Group (ten years); Deputy Leader of the Labour Group; Committee chair; Executive Member/Portfolio Holder (including for Environment, Transport and Leisure, and Partnerships and Regeneration); Scrutiny Chair; Chair of Neighbourhood Partnership; Cabinet Member for Place (including Economy, Energy, Planning, and Property).