Tributes paid to 'remarkable' former Sheffield councillor who died on Boxing Day

A ‘remarkable’ former Sheffield councillor, who ran a well-known shop in the city, has died.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Chris Tosseano represented Hillsborough as a Liberal Democrat councillor from 1994 to 2002.

She and her late husband Jim ran a bric-a-brac shop on Middlewood Road called All Sorts, and she previously worked as a theatre technician at Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tributes have been paid after she died peacefully in her sleep at Northern General Hospital on Boxing Day.

Former Sheffield councillor Chris Tosseano with her late husband Jim and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Tim FarronFormer Sheffield councillor Chris Tosseano with her late husband Jim and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron
Former Sheffield councillor Chris Tosseano with her late husband Jim and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron

Councillor Penny Baker told how she first met her when they worked together at the Royal Hallamshire during the 80s and counted her as a close friend as well as a Liberal Democrat colleague.

“Chris was a remarkable lady. If she believed in something, she believed in it deeply,” she said.

“She was someone who really cared and who was so, so determined. Even when her health wasn’t brilliant she still insisted on doing what she wanted to do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She was a true liberal in her attitude and an amazing friend. To say she will be missed is an understatement.”

Former Sheffield councillor Chris TosseanoFormer Sheffield councillor Chris Tosseano
Former Sheffield councillor Chris Tosseano

As well as being a city councillor for eight years, Ms Tosseano served as a Bradfield parish councillor and was a governor at both Hillsborough Primary School and Wisewood Community Primary School.

She was also a valued member of Hillsborough Development Trust and of Action for Stannington.

Liberal Democrat councillor and MEP Shaffaq Mohammed described how Ms Tosseano had been a faithful servant to the party and as a local councillor and campaigner had worked tirelessly to support businesses in Hillsborough shopping centre, especially after the disruption caused by the introduction of tram services, and to develop Hillsborough Park.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was with great sadness that I heard my friend and colleague Chris, who was a great inspiration for me when I first joined the Lib Dems 20 years ago, had passed away over the Christmas holidays,” he added.

Resident Ron Clayton said Christine was passionate about local issues.

He added: “She contributed much to Hillsborough Community Development Trust whose achievements lives on not least in the Walled Garden which is now in the care of another generation of community activists.

“That's what Christine was and its heartening to record there are people of many parties who still carry that mantle in today's political climate much as there is an air of disillusionment shared by many people over the process.”

Ms Tosseano is survived by her daughter, Victoria, her son, Paul, and her two grandchildren.