IN 1973, Stella Jones was elected to West Dorset District Council – aiming to address the needs of families in the area.

Now, five decades later, she is chair of Dorset Council and part of a different-looking authority, but as determined as ever to represent her constituents.

Cllr Jones was 27 when she was first elected, a busy mum of four, balancing family duties alongside a councillor husband.

Since then, she has not only served Dorset Council, but also been a Dorchester Town Councillor for 45 years, mayor three times, as well as fulfilling a host of other roles.

She said she was motivated to join the local council 50 years ago to ensure the voices of young families were heard.

“I was a busy mother with four children, having to find babysitters, take children to school and after school activities,” she said. “My husband was also a councillor, so he was busy with meetings too.

“The council was very male-dominated then, and there was a lack of facilities and services for young families, such as playgrounds and dropped kerbs where you could get around with a pram.”

She said changes have meant councillors show more respect to each other, especially women.

“Contact with residents and officers is much easier now, thanks to the internet, and online meetings help with time management and has reduced the need for travel,” she went on.

“I feel very privileged to have been elected as a councillor many times over in the last 50 years.

“It gives me great satisfaction to serve the community and help others and I continue to immensely enjoy my time as their councillor.

“My advice to newly elected councillors is to keep in touch with all your residents. Listen to their views and visit anyone who contacts you with a problem.

“We’re here to represent our community and that’s got to be the overwhelming influence in your decision to be a councillor.

“Stick to your principles and clearly state your views – but don’t talk too much or people will stop listening.”

She said the next battle in her sights was to ensure councils are able to fund themselves in the face of long-standing cuts form central government.

“Councils across the country have had to innovate and change the ways they work to deliver significant savings and efficiencies,” she said.

“But there is only so much we can do in the face of large reductions in government funding and increasing demand for services.

“I would like to see councils being able to raise money locally and spend it for the benefit of residents.”

Leader of Dorset Council, Cllr Nick Ireland, said: “It is an astonishing feat for anyone to serve continuously for 50 years – Stella has not only achieved this outstanding milestone but also has diligently represented the same area of Dorset throughout.

“She is an inspiration to anyone looking to get involved with public service, and Stella is as actively engaged with local issues now as she was when she started.”