Tribute to Former Mayor and Alderman Arthur Edwards

Flags at Newham's Town Halls are at half-mast today as a tribute to honorary alderman and former ceremonial mayor Arthur Edwards who died this morning. 

Elected Mayor Sir Robin Wales paid tribute to Arthur who he described as a “man of the people”.

Born in Stratford in 1920, Arthur was first elected as a Labour councillor on the former County Borough of West Ham in 1946 and stayed on as a Newham councillor until 1986. He served as mayor in 1967 and was deputy leader of the council in 1982. He also sat on the Greater London Council for 22 years.

Sir Robin added: “Arthur devoted much of life to serving the community of West Ham and Newham. He was a person to whom ‘man of the people’ was a description that was so well deserved. We will miss him greatly.

“Arthur played a major role in creating and shaping this borough. His knowledge and recall of the political and civic life of Newham was beyond compare. He worked tirelessly for local people. He was a truly decent man.

“I was delighted when his contribution to the community was celebrated with freedom of the borough and the title of honorary alderman in 2003. It was an honour to be with him earlier this year when we marked his retirement from the council's Committee on Civic Affairs.

“On behalf of everyone at Newham Council I offer our condolences to his family and friends and our thoughts are with them.”

Educated within the borough, after leaving school Arthur went to work for the Ever Ready company as a laboratory technician. He later went on to teach and lecture. In retirement he furthered his own academic achievement by gaining degree qualifications, culminating in election as Honorary Professor of the Moscow External University of the Humanities.

Arthur was chair of the Public Service and Safety Committee from 1973 to 1977, the time when plans were developed to build the Thames Barrier.

He had a long association with the North East London Polytechnic, now the University of East London, and was chair from 1972 until 1987. He was also vice-chair of the Thames Water Authority from 1973 until 1983.

Keenly interested in town twinning, in March 1964 he entertained a delegation from the Oktober District in Moscow. This later led to a return trip in September 1967 when he was mayor. Arthur was also heavily involved with the preparations to twin Newham with Kaiserslautern in German, a relationship that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2004.

Arthur was instrumental in the reorganisation of London councils that took place from 1958 onwards. He was part of the delegation at the Walthamstow Conference, which would later give evidence to the Royal Commission on local government in London. He sat all committees that led to the foundation of Newham in 1965.

Arthur continued his interest in the borough through the Newham Mayors’ Association and until February was co-opted to the council’s Committee on Civic Affairs. He received the award of honorary alderman and freedom of the borough in 2003.