Joan Morgan fought for the rights of residents in the borough

A campaigner who fought for the rights of disabled residents in Brent has died at the age of 58.

Joan Morgan spent her life battling to improve the lives of people living with disabilities and improve their access to education, advocacy and transport.

She also campaigned for the provision of social activities for young disabled people.

The mother-of-three was born with Developmental Dislocation of the Hips (DDH) and refused to allow her disability to stop her leading a normal life.

While working in factories, the voluntary sector and the NHS she also found time to serve as a volunteer on the management committees of Brent Dial-a-Ride, Brent Association of Disabled People, Brent Community Transport and Brent Advocacy Concerns.

Mrs Morgan also had a creative streak and wrote a number of poems which were published in disability magazines.

She also co-wrote two stage plays and treaded the boards herself by starring in ‘On the Razzle’ - a BBC production.

After moving to Watford with her husband Leo in 2008, she carried on campaigning for residents in Hertfordshire.

Once again she became an active member of the community and volunteered for the Watford Disability Forum.

Her last great campaign resulted in securing free access for carers to Watford Colosseum before she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October last year.

She died last Friday.

Mr Morgan said of his late wife: “Joan sought no reward or different treatment in life and thus though her life was short she joyfully used it to help others take pride and love in their lives.

“She always had a positive attitude to her life and always said though I was not as physically fit as I would have liked to have been, that didn’t stop me going out and about and enjoying myself with friends, family and life.’

“She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.”

Mrs Morgan is survived by her husband Leo, two sons, Adrian and Gary and daughter Nisha, three grand-children Nirvana, Kamron and Amelia Joan, daughters-in-law Nicola, Louisa and son-in-law Wantuhy.