Tributes to former council leader

Tributes have been paid to former leader of Gloucestershire County Council, Barry Dare, who died today, Friday (15th July), aged 79.

Cllr Dare was a county councillor for 20 years, from 1993 to 2013, representing the Moreton and Stow Division. Upon leaving the council he was appointed as an Honorary Alderman. He was still serving on Cotswold District Council, having been re-elected in May 2015.

During his time at the county council Cllr Dare held numerous roles, the most significant being as the council’s Leader from May 2005 to May 2010, when he handed over to current leader, Cllr Mark Hawthorne.

Cllr Dare was at the forefront of the council’s response to the 2007 flooding emergency, and was determined that as much learning as possible would be made from that experience.

Following the floods he founded the national Local Government Flood Forum and raised a flooding levy which has protected well over a 1,000 homes since then.

Cllr Dare was always interested in politics and first served in his twenties as a councillor in Twickenham, and later as a parliamentary candidate. His professional career included an economics degree from the University of London, being a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a management consultant, Chief Executive of a number of companies, including Unwins Seeds, Chief Executive of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, and other non-executive roles. He also ran his own small accountancy company for over 50 years.

In his spare time Cllr Dare was a passionate sportsman, primarily as a cricketer, but also as an enthusiastic follower of rugby. He was particularly proud of establishing the Cotswolds Fathers and Sons Ramblers’ Cricket Club to encourage youngsters into the game and to give two or three generations of players the opportunity to play together. He was also member at the MCC, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire County Cricket Clubs.

Leader of Gloucestershire County Council Cllr Mark Hawthorne said: “I have been in regular touch with Barry since he left the county council and I am very sad to hear of his passing away this morning.

“Barry served the county extremely well during his twenty years on the council and as leader, and guided us through the difficulty of the terrible flooding in 2007.

“His legacy at the council is still felt today, and I personally learnt a lot from him. My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Pete Bungard, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council, added: “Myself and Mark have been in regular contact with Barry since he left the council.

“Whilst Barry has fought illness for a number of years, he remained his lively, humorous and usual irreverent self until the last few weeks.

“We know that Barry will be greatly missed by numerous councillors and staff, many of whom will regard him as a friend and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”