Tributes paid to former Staffordshire county councillor and fire authority chair
A community leader who was made an honorary alderman in recognition of his long service to Staffordshire residents has died.
Len Bloomer dedicated more than a quarter of a century to civic duties, first as a member of Stafford Borough Council and later as a county councillor.
He also chaired Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority and was involved in the Scouting movement in Stone, as well as supporting good causes as a Freemason and carrying out fundraising work on behalf of Stafford Lions.
The grandfather died at Crispin Court Care Home, in Stafford, on January 5, less than a month after he turned 81.
Mr Bloomer was born in Sneyd Green, Stoke, and was one of 11 children. He worked for Royal Doulton before going into floristry, taking on Maureen’s Flowers in Crabbery Street, Stafford, with his brother, Mercer, and later a second shop in Stone
His wife Liz Bloomer said: “He went on the borough council after retirement and was looking to go on the county council because it was the bigger thing.
“He would do anything for anybody. If he could help someone he would. He was very loyal and had a great sense of humour.”
The couple were married for 23 years and had five children between them from their previous relationships. Mr Bloomer’s previous wife, Jean, died in 1996.
Mr Bloomer was appointed as an honorary alderman by Staffordshire County Council in 2017, just two months after he retired from the authority. He represented the Stafford Trent Valley division for 16 years.
Before becoming a county councillor Mr Bloomer, formerly of Seighford, was a member of Stafford Borough Council from 1991 to 2003, where he represented the Beaconside ward. He was deputy mayor of the borough during the 1996/97 civic year.
County councillors and former fire chiefs were among the dozens of people who attended his funeral at Stafford Crematorium on Tuesday to pay their final respects.
Former Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins said Mr Bloomer had overseen a major transformation of fire and rescue services but many people were unaware of how much work he had done.
Councillor Atkins added: “He worked very hard at making the fire service more community-focused. He took it through quite a number of changes, with new fire stations being built and taking it from being a more response-based service and putting fires out to fire prevention.
“Len was a really good constituent county councillor and always took his residents seriously. He and Liz were a really good team together and he will be sorely missed by his family and friends.”
