Tributes for former Braintree Council leader who has died

John Gyford, former leader of Braintree Council and for 28 years, Labour councillor representing Witham North, has died aged 85.

His family and colleagues have paid tribute to “the man who’s always smiling”, who was a loving husband, father, and brother.

Born in 1939 and raised in Twickenham with younger sister Chris, John retained throughout his life vivid memories of his early childhood in wartime London, where he attended Newland House School and then St Paul’s School.

He was a student of Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated with a degree in geography, which was followed by a postgraduate diploma in town planning from Manchester University.

He met wife Janet initially at Oxford, and again while working together as young town planners for London County Council.

In 1966 they married and moved to Witham, with children Phil and Sue arriving in the early 1970s.

John took great pleasure in family life, from caravan holidays at Walton to following his children’s progress as they grew to adulthood and embarked on their own adventures.

The move to Essex also brought a professional move into academia, working initially in a series of colleges and polytechnics

John then moved to Essex University, and finally to University College London in 1975, where he spent the rest of his career as a lecturer/reader in urban politics and planning.

He was the author and co-author of many books on the politics of local government, and also worked at various times with the Local Government Association, and the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee.

Loved - John's family and former colleagues have paid tribute to him (Image: Phil Gyford) John joined the Labour Party as a student in 1958 and was a member and activist for the rest of his life.

Most notably, he devoted many years to dedicated public service for the people of Witham as a councillor.

He served on Witham Urban District Council (1970 to 74), on Essex County Council (1970 to 77 and 1993 to 2001) and on Braintree Council (1983 to 2011), where he was leader from 1995 to 2000.

He was also the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Braintree in 1979.

His family said the dedication "would not have been possible without the ongoing help and support over so many years" from wife Janet, herself a Labour Party member.

In addition to his council roles, John was very active within the Labour Party in Witham throughout the six decades that he lived in the town, serving on its committees, and campaigning hard at election time.

It was here that he made many enduring and meaningful friendships with fellow party members, which he greatly valued.

Often a quiet man, he was nonetheless kind, warm, unfailingly cheerful, and easily contented.

While children Phil and Sue attended Rickstones School, he was a parent governor, with a teacher once referring to him as “the man who’s always smiling.”

It was a description that lingered long as a family joke.

John died at St George’s Nursing Home in Witham on October 23, with Phil and Sue at his side. He is survived by Janet, Phil, Sue, and sister Chris.

His daughter Sue said: “Dad lived in Witham for nearly 60 years and was a councillor for more than half that time – a role he really loved.

"As well as being a long-time Labour Party activist, he was passionate about the power of local government to make a difference to people’s lives. 

"Serving Witham residents as their councillor was a way of living out his political values in the real world, which was so important to him.

"He was always positive and cheerful, and as a family, we will miss him terribly, but we’ve been comforted by the kind thoughts and recollections that friends, neighbours and colleagues have shared with us in recent weeks.”

David Mann, former Braintree Council colleague of John, paid tribute to his knowledge and commitment.

He said: “John lived and breathed local government.

“He was not only an academic - he was a passionate activist.

“He was well ahead of his time in recognising the potential contribution local government could make as opposed to central government, and in seeking to extent its influence in the local community.”

David went on to praise John’s “exceptional leadership” and the huge contribution he made to Braintree district.

Other figures from Essex Labour also gave warm tributes, recalling John’s “intelligence and integrity,” his “sound guidance and advice,” and expertise on the history of Essex County Council.

John's funeral will be on Friday, November 29, at Chelmsford Crematorium's south Chapel at 2.30pm. 

There will then be a reception at Witham Labour Party Hall at 4pm.