TRIBUTES have been paid to well known Hull disability rights campaigner Susan Meakin-Clark who has died. Ms Meakin-Clark, 58, collapsed at her sheltered accommodation in Hull city centre and was pronounced dead despite a battle by paramedics to save her.
Ms Meakin-Clark was a founder member of the Hull Council for the Disabled and was voted president last year after years as chairman.
She was known throughout the city for her work championing the rights of disabled people and also set up the Society of Disabled Students at the University of Hull, which, with her trademark sense of humour, she called the Sods.
Three years ago Ms Meakin-Clark was blinded by her second husband with a cigarette. He was jailed for the attack. Ms Meakin-Clark's first husband Bill McLane said she collapsed at her home in Amy Johnson Court after complaining to her carer of colic pains on December 28.Mr McLane said: "She hadn't been her usual bright self leading up to Christmas and I noticed her pallor didn't look that great.
"After she said she had a bit of colic, her carer gave her some medication and that was it, she just keeled over.
"Her poor carer gave her mouth-to-mouth and the paramedics worked on her for more than 20 minutes but they couldn't revive her."
Mr McLane, who was married to Ms Meakin-Clark for 12 years and remained friends with her afterwards, said she had managed to forgive her second husband, Robert John Clark, despite the attack that blinded her, and still visited him in prison.
He said: "She just brushed off what he did to her and she would never bring him down. She was that kind of person.
"She was a lady of very small stature but her heart was bigger than her body.
"The world is definitely a poorer place without her."
Ms Meakin-Clark joined Holy Trinity Church in Hull following the attack by her husband and The Reverend Matt Woodcock expressed his sorrow at her death.
He said: "Susie was a complete inspiration.
"She came to us about two- and-a-half years ago under very difficult circumstances, but she brought the place alive.
"Despite having a really difficult life and coping with her own disabilities, all she ever thought about was helping others.
"She was just such a valued member of the church."
Her friends have expressed their sorrow at her death on Holy Trinity's Facebook page.
Brian Gilliland wrote: "It was a great privilege to know Susie.
"My thoughts and prayers are with all her close friends, and all those whom she helped.
"Susie made a great difference to very many lives, and her passing will leave a great sense of loss."
Keith Norton posted: "Our prayers are for those who mourn you, Susie. You are definitely in the arms of Jesus now with a brand new body running and dancing free."
Diane Rayne wrote: "We have lost a national treasure, an unsung hero who thought only of other people and what she could do to help."
Ms Meakin-Clark's body is expected to be released by the coroner after a post-mortem and her funeral will take place at Holy Trinity in the coming days.
