TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘remarkable’ former Mayor of Rugby who passed away earlier this month.
Philip Blundell, who was first elected to Rugby Borough Council in 1973 to represent Newbold Ward, has died at the age of 83.
He leaves a widow, Margaret, three children and several grandchildren.
A teacher, Mr Blundell was appointed Mayor of Rugby in 1978 and was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in 1992 in recognition of his public service.
In addition to representing the borough council’s Newbold Ward for a decade, Mr Blundell was leader of Warwickshire County Council in the 1980s and went on to chair Warwickshire Police Authority before he was elected the vice chair of the Association of Police Authorities in 2007.
His passion for the NHS led him to chair Rugby Primary Care Trust and serve on the board of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust as a non-executive director.
And in the early 1990s, he was chief executive of Birmingham City Challenge, a Government-backed initiative to regenerate deprived urban areas in the ‘second city’.
Mr Blundell’s funeral takes place at St Andrew’s Church on Friday August 7.
Former Mayors, Freemen of the Borough and serving councillors have been invited to attend, while the council intends to fly the borough flag at half-mast on the day of Mr Blundell’s funeral.
Coun Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for partnerships, health and wellbeing, and deputy leader of the council’s Labour group, paid tribute to her long-time colleague and friend.
She said: “I’ve known Phil and his wonderful family for more than 40 years.
“Phil was always someone I could look up to and respect. He was a brilliant public speaker and a formidable debater, always passionate about the causes he believed in.
“Despite his convictions, Phil never took himself too seriously. He always understood that political disagreements belong in the council chamber and never allowed them to become personal.
“The ability to disagree with respect was one of the many qualities that made him such a remarkable man.
“Phil will be greatly missed and my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Salvation Army’s Rugby Citadel.
Visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/rugby-citadel to make an online donation.
