Council mourns death of former councillor Derek Cryer
Slough Borough Council regrets to announce the death of former councillor Derek Cryer.
Councillor Cryer, 83, died of cancer on 31 March 2020, at his home in Langley.
Councillor Cryer was first elected as a councillor for Langley Ward from 1967 until 1973, including being deputy mayor for the municipal year 1972/73.
He was re-elected in the year 2000 for Langley St. Mary’s Ward and served as leader of the Conservative group from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2008 to 2009 before retiring in 2010.
Between 2004 and 2008, Councillor Cryer was also a cabinet member, as part of a joint administration, serving as commissioner for social services and social care and was a key part of the creation of the extra-care housing in Wexham.
Leader of the council, councillor James Swindlehurst, said: “I served for eight years on the council with Derek and had tremendous respect for him as a principled and honourable councillor who came from a generation which understood the values of public service and decency.
“Although we often disagreed in political terms when motions came to council or on the direction of policy, Derek cared deeply about our town and our disagreements always ended in the council chamber with his cordial nature being back the moment the meeting was over.
“Councillor Cryer had already had a significant time in local politics when he served in the 1970s and his willingness to come back and serve again when he had plenty to do in his retirement was something I particularly admired.
“Derek was the epitome of a gentleman, always well-mannered, always polite, and always respectful. He will be missed and my thoughts and those of the council are with his wife Eleanor and all his family and friends.”
Councillor Cryer, 83, died of cancer on 31 March 2020, at his home in Langley.
Councillor Cryer was first elected as a councillor for Langley Ward from 1967 until 1973, including being deputy mayor for the municipal year 1972/73.
He was re-elected in the year 2000 for Langley St. Mary’s Ward and served as leader of the Conservative group from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2008 to 2009 before retiring in 2010.
Between 2004 and 2008, Councillor Cryer was also a cabinet member, as part of a joint administration, serving as commissioner for social services and social care and was a key part of the creation of the extra-care housing in Wexham.
Leader of the council, councillor James Swindlehurst, said: “I served for eight years on the council with Derek and had tremendous respect for him as a principled and honourable councillor who came from a generation which understood the values of public service and decency.
“Although we often disagreed in political terms when motions came to council or on the direction of policy, Derek cared deeply about our town and our disagreements always ended in the council chamber with his cordial nature being back the moment the meeting was over.
“Councillor Cryer had already had a significant time in local politics when he served in the 1970s and his willingness to come back and serve again when he had plenty to do in his retirement was something I particularly admired.
“Derek was the epitome of a gentleman, always well-mannered, always polite, and always respectful. He will be missed and my thoughts and those of the council are with his wife Eleanor and all his family and friends.”
