Leominster is mourning the passing of Dick Burke (left), a powerful political voice for Leominster for more than half a century, who died earlier this week.
A heavyweight in the council chamber, 88-year-old Councillor Burke, who was also mayor of Leominster, maintained a remarkable 50-year career as a county councillor.
Tributes have been pouring in for one of the key figures responsible for establishing the town’s industrial estate back in the 1960s. He also served on the former Leominster Borough Council, Leominster District Council and Herefordshire County Council.
He is survived by his sons David and Alan, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He lost his wife Mary and their son Michael some years ago.
Councillor June French said: “He was a great character, and sadly we are losing our characters. He was a true public servant.”
Tribute has been paid by Leominster’s deputy mayor, Councillor Richard Westwood, a key figure in renewed plans for an east to west relief road, a subject close to Councillor Burke’s heart. “He would fight his corner politically, but as far as Leominster was concerned the community came first,” he said.
Born in Birmingham young Dick Burke lied about his age to sign up for the Coldstream Guards and served in Palestine during the Second World War. He was captured in Tobruk but escaped from a Prisoner of War camp in Ancona.
David said that his father, one of five children born to Irish parents, was survived by a 93-year-old sister, Molly, living in the United States.”
The funeral will be at 2pm, Wednesday, August 20, at Leominster Priory Church. He will be buried at Ivington Church next to his wife.
