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Ref: 05/09                                                                                                                         7^th January 2009

Tom Holman MBE – A Tribute

A County Council Honorary Alderman with a lifetime of public service in Cheshire and beyond has died at the age of 93.

Tom Holman from Nantwich was first elected to County Hall in 1949 and served for 48 years there - being the Father of the Council for 12 years before he retired in 1997.

In1981 he was awarded a Member of the British Empire honour in recognition of his political and public service.

He was the longest serving member of Cheshire County Council and was first elected to represent Crewe until 1951. He was then elected to serve Nantwich until his retirement. Honorary Alderman Holman was Vice Chairman of the County Council from 1976 to 1981 and again in 1982. He was also chairman of the Library and Arts Committee and vice chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.

He was deputy leader of the Conservative group at County Hall between 1974 and 1981.

A retired British Rail supervisor, he was also a member of Crewe Borough Council, ex Chairman of Nantwich Urban District Council, ex Chairman of Nantwich Town Council, a member of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council and leader of the Conservative group there from 1974 to 1978.

An ex Serviceman, his many roles included being a member of the Chester, Crewe and District War Pensions Committee and chairman of the Cheshire War Pensions committee. He also served on the Central Advisory Board on War Pensions which met at the House of Commons.

His trade union background included membership of the National Union of Railwaymen until his retirement, serving as shop steward and chairman of the Workshop committee for 15 years. He was chairman of the Crewe No 1 branch for many years.

For 27 years he was a member of the Conservative North West Trade Unionists committee and twice its chairman and a member of the party’s National Advisory Committee on trade union affairs.

A prominent Conservative, Honorary Alderman Holman held office at local and national level, and at one time served on the Conservative Central Council Executive committee.

Throughout his career he took great interest in welfare, education and the arts and was a former national president of the Christian Workers Union, a Church of England organisation. He also served on industrial tribunals.

And for many years was a Server, Sub Deacon and resident organist at St. Michael’s Church in Crewe.

County Council Leader Paul Findlow said: “Tom dedicated himself to public service in general and the town of Nantwich in particular for many decades, to such an extent he became known as ‘Mr Dabber’ in Nantwich.

“I recall him being very kind to me when I first joined the County Council in 1981, by which time he was a distinguished, senior member. We subsequently kept in touch after his retirement.

“His sad passing heralds the end of an era.”

Honorary Alderman Holman’s funeral service will take place at St Mary’s Nantwich Parish Church on Thursday January 15 at 2pm followed by cremation at Crewe Crematorium.

He is survived by his second wife Betty, and from his first marriage, four children, three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

-Ends-

SW/CD

NEWS DESKS: Please Find Enclosed A Photograph Of Honorary Alderman Holman.