The funeral of Allan Richardson

The funeral of Councillor Allan Richardson, who represented the Cholmondeley ward that includes Audlem and other local parishes, and who died at the weekend, will take place at Wrenbury on Thursday 17th September at 3.00pm.

A statement from the Cheshire East Council Leader, Wesley Fitzgerald, was released yesterday. It said:

"It is with regret I have to announce the death of Cholmondeley ward Councillor, Allan Richardson, one of the longest serving councillors in the country and a man recognised for his vast experience in Local Government and commitment to the people of Cheshire.

Cllr Richardson, 89, of Wrenbury Heath, near Nantwich, passed away at his home on Sunday. For more than 60 years he had represented the needs of his local community as a councillor at county and borough level and as a member of Cheshire East Council, he remained highly respected for his integrity, experience and drive despite his advancing years.

Born 2 December, 1919, Councillor Richardson began his local government career with the former Cheadle and Gatley Urban District Council in 1949. He was first elected to the former Cheshire County Council in April 1964 as Member for the Cheadle No 2 Division which he represented until local government reorganisation in 1974.

During that period, he was a member of the Education, Planning and Library Committees and vice-chairman of the Health and Finance Committees. From 1967, he was leader of the County Council and a member of the North West Economic Planning Council and of the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee.

He was re-elected to Cheshire County Council in March 1975 as a member for the Nantwich Rural No 2 Division. During the 70s he also chaired the county's Library and Arts Committee and Policy and Resources Committee and had a second term as leader of the authority. Councillor Richardson had also served as a chairman of the North West Arts Council.

He was awarded an OBE for his services to the water industry after sitting at the helm of the old Stockport Water Board and Mersey and Weaver River Authority before becoming a Government-appointed founder member of the North West Water Authority.

In 1983, the retired company director and farmer, was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire – an honour bestowed in recognition of his long service to the people of the county. Appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, it was a role he treasured and filled until his death.

Cllr Paul Findlow, a council colleague since 1981, said: "Only recently I was with Allan at a meeting in Macclesfield, where he contributed actively to the proceedings, so news of his death has come as a shock and is a great loss to Cheshire East.

"His service speaks for itself. Six decades representing the needs of local people was a huge achievement and made him one of the longest serving councillors in the country. His experience was a great asset to Cheshire East. He was also a long-serving member of the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council. Not since the days of Tom Holman, have we seen such dedication. He will be very much missed."

As an active and driven member of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Richardson was chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee and was a member of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, Southern Planning Committee and the joint Cheshire East/Cheshire West and Chester/Wirral Joint Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Richardson, a former pupil of Nantwich and Acton Grammar school, leaves his wife, Shirley."

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