Former council leader and Freeman of Bury dies

Derek Boden OBE, former Leader of Bury Council and long-serving Whitefield councillor, has died.

Derek was first elected to the former Whitefield Urban District Council in 1972, becoming a member of the new Bury Metropolitan Borough Council in 1974. A Labour councillor, he represented Besses ward in Whitefield for 40 years until standing down at the 2012 local elections.

Mr Boden (aged 78) was leader of Bury Council from 1997 to 2001, and also served as leader of the North West Regional Assembly. He received the OBE from the Queen in 2004 in recognition of his long service to local government.

He also contested the 1983 and 1987 general elections in the Bury South constituency.

He was married to Jean, who died in 2013, and they have two daughters, Alison and Rowan, and three grandchildren. He lived in Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield, and for many years worked as an engineer with ICI.

Flags were flying at half-mast outside Bury Town Hall and also in Whitefield in tribute to Mr Boden, who died at Royal Blackburn Hospital in the early hours of Sunday.

Councillor Mike Connolly, the leader of Bury Council, said: “I’m very saddened to hear of Derek’s passing. He was an outstanding councillor, representing the people of Whitefield and the borough with tremendous passion, intelligence and integrity. On top of that, a nicer man you couldn’t wish to meet. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 12 April 2016.