Tributes paid to veteran Staffordshire councillor
Tributes have been paid to a former Staffordshire councillor and magistrate who served his community for many decades.
Amyas Stafford Northcote spent his working life as a teacher and joint headmaster at the former St Bede’s School in Bishton Hall.
Away from the classroom he was involved a number of organisations in Staffordshire – as well as keeping residents of Colwich and the Haywoods informed of local events through his weekly Community News column for the Newsletter.
Mr Stafford Northcote died on Saturday, March 21, following a long illness, aged 82 years old.
He has been interred in the grounds of St John’s Church in Great Haywood but attendance was limited due to current measures in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
His family said: “A very well know figure in Staffordshire, he served as a magistrate for 38 years, as a borough councillor for 16 and as a parish councillor for Colwich and the Haywoods for 30.
“After National Service with the South Staffordshire Regiment, he went to Christchurch College, Oxford where he gained an MA in history. He began teaching in the family-run school of St. Bede’s, Bishton Hall, becoming joint headmaster with his brother, Hugh, in 1978.
“He became a Knight of Malta. He was a President of the Conservative constituency of Stafford and Vice President of the CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Staffordshire.
“His interests included classic cars, clocks and coins. He will be greatly missed by his sister, Julia, and his brother Hugh and family.”
Senior members of Stafford Borough Council held 10 seconds’ silence in tribute to Mr Stafford Northcote during their virtual cabinet meeting on April 2. The meeting was conducted by telephone to reduce social contact and the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Council leader Patrick Farrington said: “Very sadly former councillor Amyas Stafford Northcote has recently passed away.
"You will all know he was a stalwart in relation to his involvement on various committees, planning committee and his seniority and experience.
“I would like you to take ten seconds of your time to remember Amyas and of course we will hopefully celebrate his life at a later date.
"Once these difficulties are over we will conduct a much more appropriate recognition of Amyas’ contribution to the council.”
