My husband, Michael Williams, who has died aged 83, was a passionate socialist who served as a Wandsworth Labour councillor from 1971 to 1990, elected to signify Roehampton. He was chair of the housing administration and housing coverage committees from 1973 to 1978, when Labour had been in management, after which Labour spokesman for housing till 1990, when he retired undefeated.
Mike devoted his time, coronary heart and soul to Wandsworth’s tenants, they usually couldn’t have had a greater champion of their pursuits. He battled towards forms and was on the forefront of opposition to Margaret Thatcher’s 1980 Housing Finance Act – which, in impact, took away from councils the fitting to find out how a lot their tenants needed to pay. Mike joined with others in resigning his place moderately than imposing what he noticed as anti-democratic insurance policies.
Born and raised in Bridport, rural Dorset, Mike was considered one of 5 kids of Freda (nee Taylor), a care employee, and Alec Williams, a salesman. After Bridport grammar faculty, Mike went to London on the age of 19 and shortly discovered his pure house in Putney Labour social gathering.
In 1957 he joined the civil service in London as a clerk, later working for the Inland Income and as a tax adviser at corporations together with the Common Electrical Firm and Conoco. From 2002 he carried out the identical position on the accountancy agency PKF in Guildford, remaining there till he retired in 2005.
Mike and I met in Putney in 1984, whereas I used to be working as a main faculty instructor, and had been married in 1993.
He was not solely a fearsome opponent politically, but in addition on the sports activities subject. A formidable quick bowler, he gained trophies for his achievements with native London cricket groups within the Seventies (seven wickets for 11 runs!). He additionally had a lifelong love of soccer, and supported his beloved Fulham FC by way of each excessive and low for greater than 60 years. In his later years he took up golf after we moved to Farncombe, Surrey, in 1991.
Studying the Guardian was a every day ritual that sustained his beliefs and gave him hope. He additionally very a lot loved our every day battle with the crossword, in addition to holidays in Greece and Spain.
Mike is survived by his three kids – Sophie and Dan, from his first marriage, which led to divorce, and our son, Joel – his grandson, Archie, his sisters, Diana and Carole, and by me.
