Ann Lukes died in London at her nursing home on April 7, 2020, aged 88. She had been very frail for some time and had not left the home for a couple of years. Her earlier adult life was in stark contrast: born in 1931 and brought up during WW2, she was an only child of middle-class parents who moved to Surbiton early in her childhood. She trained as a GP at the Royal Free Hospital, one of the few hospitals that trained female doctors at the time.

Ann became politically active while studying, became an active member of CND and campaigned for peace her whole life. She married and became a housewife but was still attending CND marches with her husband and children while producing the occasional artwork and organising the family on holidays to the UK and Europe.

After moving with her husband and family to Cardiff in the 1960s Ann went through a harrowing divorce in the 1970s, and had to start life again. She set up her own catering business, later opening the kitchen at Chapter Arts Centre. Ann started a food co-operative from the outbuilding in her back garden, became a director and key member of the Cardiff Peace Shop, set up a patchwork and banner making business.

She grew organic fruit and veg in her garden, kept at least 10 cats, participated in the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, looked after her widowed mother, babysat and nannied for other parents, campaigned on a number of local environmental issues including the Cardiff Bay barrage scheme and qualified as a plumber (one of the first women in South Wales to do so) while still a single parent.

After her mother had passed away and her last child had left home Ann ‘retired’ to Tenby with her cats where she was involved with the Townswomen’s Guild, the Walled Towns Friendship Circle, the Friends of Tenby Museum, local arts groups, the campaign to save the Tenby Station, the campaign to save the De Valence Pavilion, St. Lawrence’s Church at Gumfreston, the Boxing Day Swim for charity and Tenby 2020.

A keen cyclist, Ann could often be seen on her bicycle in and around Tenby. She continued to paint, grow vegetables in her garden and to make patchworks as long as she was physically able to.

Ann was buried at the Cardiff and The Vale Burial Meadow and her family are planning to have a memorial service when the situation allows. Ann’s Family can be contacted via [email protected].

People wishing to remember Ann are asked to send money to:

Campaign Against the Arms Trade https://www.caat.org.uk/support-our-work/dona