Tributes paid to leading local politican
Councillor Lewis Rose OBE, has died aged 74
The longest serving councillor on Derbyshire Dales District Council, Councillor Rose was Leader of the Conservative group for 45 years until 2019.
For most of that time he served as Leader or Deputy Leader of the Council, and the Union Flag at the District Council's Matlock Town Hall headquarters is flying at half mast as a mark of respect.
The Carsington Water ward councillor lived in Kniveton, where he was a member of the parish council for many years.
Originally elected to the old Ashbourne Rural District Council at the age of only 23 in 1971, Councillor Rose became a member of West Derbyshire District Council on its formation in 1974 and holds the distinction of proposing it be renamed Derbyshire Dales in 1988.
He followed his grandfather - also named Lewis Rose - into politics and between them they accumulated more than 100 years of public service.
Councillor Rose's successor as Council Leader, Gary Purdy says:
Awarded the OBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 1995 for his political and public service, Councillor Rose served on a vast number of organisations on behalf of the Derbyshire Dales, including the Local Government Association General Assembly, the District Councils’ Network, East Midlands Councils, Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Derby and Derbyshire Strategic Leadership Forum, Peak District Partnership and he was a board member of the Sheffield City Region.
“This is a terribly sad day. The local government scene has lost a major player. Passionate in promoting the cause of small rural districts such as the Derbyshire Dales, for over 40 years Lewis was a force to be reckoned with, not only locally but also on the county, regional and national political scene.
“He was tireless in championing the Derbyshire Dales, fighting for its residents on the many different forums he served on and I cannot speak too highly of his dedication to public and political life."
Councillor Rose leaves a widow, Janet, sons Robert and Andrew and five grandchildren.