It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Elizabeth Allison BEM, who was a much-admired member of the Sutton Coldfield community, a noted champion of our local heritage and a campaigner for civic life here in the Royal Town.

Elizabeth's husband Robert and their daughters Eleanor and Caroline shared that Elizabeth passed away peacefully in Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield on Wednesday 3 June 2026, after suffering a stroke. 

Elizabeth had lived with Alzheimer's disease for some years and was receiving nursing care before her admission to hospital. 

Hon. Ald. David Roy OBE, who knew Elizabeth for many years, has written this tribute:

“I've only known Elizabeth for just over 40 years, half of her long and fascinating life. 

“She was born in Bristol then obtained a degree in history at Reading University, trained as a teacher and completing 2 years VSO teaching in Jamaica.  

“She came to Sutton Coldfield, where she met her future husband, Robert, who shared her many interests. She taught gifted and talented children, but also children who would not attend school, and inpatient children in Good Hope Hospital.  She had a huge network of friends and kept in touch with them.  She was well-read, and recorded talks for the blind.

“Elizabeth was chairman of the Sutton Civic Society for some years, which she led from the front.  She was never short of a presentation on local history, on which she was passionate and knowledgeable, and was a gifted orator and researcher.

“In recent years she added a Master's degree in Local History from Birmingham University to her impressive list of accomplishments. She recorded for radio and newspapers, she had a fine singing voice, and was a very smart shooter of crossbow – even winning a Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Montreal. 

“Elizabeth was a very gifted lady and was one of life's doers and achievers. She will be greatly missed.”