Norman Kay, who has died aged 77, was the primary Inexperienced occasion chair of Stroud district council and was nonetheless in workplace as vice-chair. He served the council for 21 years, first as Labour and later a Inexperienced occasion consultant, in addition to being a Nailsworth city councillor for 14 years, together with three as mayor.
Norman was first elected as a Labour councillor in 1983, for the village of Leonard Stanley after which Nailsworth. He grew to become deputy chief of the Labour group, chief whip and chair of the housing committee. Following the Iraq conflict, he resigned from the Labour occasion and was re-elected to Stroud district council as a Inexperienced councillor in 2016. Moreover being chair and vice-chair, he served on a variety of committees. A Stroud Inexperienced occasion spokesperson described him as “irreplaceable”.
Born in Bethnal Inexperienced, east London, to Sylvia (nee Sidloff) and Sidney Kay, a radical Jewish household, Norman went to Hackney Downs grammar college. He grew to become politically energetic as a youngster, serving as secretary of Hackney Unbiased Labour occasion. After a spell of taxi driving in London, he studied sociology and political science underneath Zygmunt Bauman at Leeds College and was elected to the coed union govt committee.
After commencement, he grew to become a social employee in Doncaster in 1973, then Bristol in 1976, and, lastly, Gloucestershire, from the early Nineteen Eighties to 2006. Along with his spouse, Kate (nee Berry), whom he met at college and married in 1971, and a few buddies he established a socialist/feminist bookshop in Bristol referred to as Full Marks.
Grasp’s levels in social administration underneath Peter Townsend (Bristol College, 80s) and public administration (Birmingham College, 90s), and a level in chemistry (Open College, 2000s) adopted. By the 90s, Norman was managing his personal grownup and psychological well being social work crew. He was accredited as a specialist in psychological well being early in his time at Bristol.
A sort, mild and principled man, Norman was extensively revered throughout his group. He might “disagree agreeably”, and labored constructively with a variety of teams, of various political beliefs and none. A dedicated member of the council’s equality, range and inclusion working group, he was its chair in 2021.
He was actively concerned in Stroud’s Homosexual Delight and Holocaust Memorial days and supported anti-slavery initiatives, together with the removing of the Blackboy clock in Stroud. He additionally supported requires Palestinian rights.
Norman collected for the poppy enchantment yearly and served on the Cotswolds space of excellent pure magnificence committee. He was energetic in selling the Stroud present and favored to exhibit his personal uncommon breed Cotswold sheep domestically. Norman and Kate additionally had a goat, horses and pigs. He was nonetheless taking care of his livestock as much as final 12 months. A eager racing supporter, he was a member of Cheltenham racecourse.
I met Norman at a constituency Labour occasion assembly in Stroud, the place Kate and I shared the function of constituency secretary. He and I have been buddies for 40 years.
Norman is survived by Kate, and his sister, Frances.
