A FORMER county council leader who “fell into politics” has died at 84.

Joan Mont served as a Conservative member on East Sussex Council County (ESCC) for nearly 20 years, ultimately leading the authority.

The former Brighton and Hove High School student worked at Worthing’s Connaught Theatre as assistant manager before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

But she passed up stardom to marry teenage sweetheart Neville Mont in 1952.

It was at a Conservative meeting in 1973 that her solicitor husband put her forward to contest the Moulsecoomb seat of ESCC, which then also included Brighton and Hove.

She lost by a small margin but, two years later during a by-election, won the seat by seven votes and turned the constituency from red to blue, receiving praise from Margaret Thatcher.

In 1981, Mrs Mont stood for the safe seat in Rottingdean ward and, by the summer of that year, was elected chairman of the East Sussex Education Committee.

By 1985 she had become leader and her formidable character led to her being known as the Iron Lady of East Sussex.

In 1991 she resigned from politics, retiring to Scotland with her husband.

Neville Mont’s death in 1995 left Joan “devastated” and she moved back to the South Coast to focus on charity work.

But she stayed in with the Conservatives, becoming chairman of Kings Cliff Tories in Brighton in 1998 and was also deputy chairman of Kemp Town Conservatives.

Andrew Bowden MBE, Brighton Kemptown MP from 1970 to 1997, said: “She had a long and distinguished public service record.

“She was a strong and determined leader widely respected by members of all political parties.”

A “natural seamstress”, Mrs Mont made her own clothes, including her leather handbags which she gave rigidity with used cereal boxes, and her own and her daughters’ wedding dresses.

Joan Mont died on November 28, aged 84, from cancer. She spent the last 36 hours of her life at the Martlets Hospice, where daughter Sarah Oakden said she “fell asleep”.

She also leaves behind daughters Fiona Hesketh and Vanessa Norris.

Mrs Oakden’s son, Alan, 22, said she “always found time for anyone who needed a helping hand” and was “not only my grandma but the lady who shaped everyone’s life who knew her.”

A private family cremation is followed by a public thanksgiving service at Southwick Christian Community Church in Roman Crescent, Southwick, on Monday, December 8, at 1.30pm.