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Tony Mothersdale |
Warm tributes to a dedicated public servant
TONY Mothersdale, the Church Street ward Labour Party councillor, died on Friday after a short battle with cancer, aged 72.
He will be remembered as a man of principle who devoted his life to public service.
Born in Yorkshire, he lived in Westminster for more than 50 years.
After stints on Waltham Forest and Islington councils, he was elected to Church Street ward in 2000, stating an overriding mission to improve the neighbourhood.
As a parishioner of St Paul’s Church in Rossmore Road he was well known in the area and his weekend shopping trips in Church Street Market were known to last all day.
By 2007 he had totalled 50 years in public service – both as a local government officer and councillor – a milestone noted by his council colleagues who appointed him chair of one of the licensing sub-committees, a rare achievement for a Labour councillor in Tory-dominated City Hall. As Labour’s chief whip, he was the party’s nominee for Lord Mayor.
For 15 years he worked at the London Central Employment Tribunals in Kingsway, Holborn, and was approved by the secretary of state to hear race discrimination cases. For four years he was the chairman of independent review panels hearing NHS patients’ complaints.
Mr Mothersdale’s voluntary work also included service in the criminal justice system. He was a volunteer with the probation service at Highgate Magistrates’ Court and kept an eye on prison conditions as a custody visitor at West End Central, Marylebone and Paddington Green police stations.
He was executive committee member for the Westminster Race Equality Council and volunteered for the HIV/Aids charity Terrence Higgins Trust for five years.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Labour group leader, said: “Tony will be missed by so many people – in Church Street, the council, the Labour Party, in local government across London and in his profession where he reached the very top. Whatever he did, he did well and was respected by all. Above all, he was a man of principle.
“He was an exemplary local councillor who knew what was going on in every corner of Church Street. His shopping trips on Church Street Market took all morning as he would continually have to stop to talk to constituents eager to hear about the progress of the cases that he took up on their behalf or to report a local problem to him. His fellow Labour councillors have spoken warmly of his kindness, help and support to them.”
He added: “Tony was respected across the council and will be irreplaceable. He brought wisdom, common sense and dignity to everything he did and we shall all miss him so very much.”
Karen Buck MP said: “I knew him well. He was a man totally dedicated to public service, with enormous integrity, gentleness and a deliciously dry sense of humour.”
Sir Simon Milton, leader of Westminster Council, said: “Antony was a well-respected local councillor who diligently served his constituents in Church Ward. He made a valuable contribution to many committees and his work brought great credit to local government. Our thoughts are with Antony’s family at this difficult time.”
The funeral is at St Paul’s Church, Rossmore Road, North on Tuesday June 17.
The funeral service will be followed by a private cremation at Kensal Green Cemetery.
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Your Comments:
Tony was a great guy - my best friend.
Just pointing out your one flaw - he was 70yrs old not 72.
Dennis
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