The former Mayor of Amber Valley, retired Councillor John Jeffery, died at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on Monday 3 March 2008 aged 89 years.
Councillor Jeffery first served on Amber Valley Borough Council between 1981 and 1991. He was re-elected in 1999 and served again until 2004, representing the Shipley Park, Horsley & Horsley Woodhouse ward (known as the Shipley ward until 2000).
From May 2001 until May 2002 John was Mayor of Amber Valley; a role that he carried out with great dignity and enjoyment. As well as being a Borough Councillor, John also served for many years on Denby Parish Council.
Councillor Stuart Bradford, Leader of Amber Valley Borough Council, led tributes to the former Mayor on behalf of all the Borough Councillors. He said, “John Jeffery was a kind, generous, hard working man with a great sense of humour. Having grown up in Amber Valley he cared passionately about the Borough and its residents, and was proud to serve here as both councillor and mayor.
“John was a popular and well-respected Member of the Council; and I know I echo the thoughts of all my colleagues when I say that he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew and worked with him. I am sure that Members and Officers will want to join me in extending our sincere condolences to his family at this time.”
Councillor Peter Arnold, the current Mayor of Amber Valley, added, “ John was held in very high esteem by other mayors and councillors, not only in Amber Valley but across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. An avid photographer, he was affectionately known as David Bailey by many of his colleagues as he was rarely seen without his camera, taking photographs of everyone and everything! He will be greatly missed by those of us who were priviledged to have worked with him over the years.”
One of Councillor Jeffery’s many achievements was obtaining a Creative Writing Degree from the University of Derby in his very late seventies / early eighties. As part of this he wrote a book on the past leaders of Amber Valley Borough Council, dating back to when it was still a district council.
A service will be held for Councillor Jeffery at Denby Parish Church on Wednesday 12th March at 2.00pm. The Amber Valley flag outside the Town Hall in Ripley will fly at half-mast until sunset on the day of the funeral as a mark of respect.
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For more information please contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, telephone 01773 841655.
