Tributes to ex-Mayor's Secretary John Fawcett: "He leaves behind him a legacy which will be remembered for many years to come"

Tributes have been paid to a man who served as the Mayor of Scarborough’s Secretary for 25 years.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

John Fawcett died on April 15 in Scarborough Hospital at the age of 87 from heart disease.

Born in West Ham, London, in 1932, he worked for Unilever in London until he moved to Scarborough in 1967.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He joined the council as Deputy Director of Publicity and was appointed to the post of Mayor’s Secretary in 1974 after local government re-organisation.

John Fawcett with daughters Sue, left, and Sally-Ann, on a birthday-treat visit to Newcastle United FC last year.John Fawcett with daughters Sue, left, and Sally-Ann, on a birthday-treat visit to Newcastle United FC last year.
John Fawcett with daughters Sue, left, and Sally-Ann, on a birthday-treat visit to Newcastle United FC last year.
Read More
John Fawcett, who was Secretary to 25 borough Mayors and was involved in many Sc...

In the role, he oversaw many civic events and Royal visits until his retirement in 1995.

He was also a one-time chairman of Scarborough Football Club and President of Scarborough Rotary Club.

Cllr David Jeffels, a long-standing friend, said in a tribute: “John made a significant contribution to the life of Scarborough in so many ways, both at the Town Hall and in his life in the community.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He was an outstanding officer with a great wealth of knowledge from his career in the business world before he moved to Scarborough.

“He was a very effective Assistant Director of Publicity before he became Mayoral Secretary, organising as many as 750 engagements a year for the Mayor of the day.

“His attention to civic protocol was unsurpassed and invaluable to those of us who were fortunate to have had the value of his service during his long career.

“An ardent football supporter, his knowledge of the game came to the fore when he became one of the most successful chairmen of Scarborough FC, playing a leading role in its success which eventually led to Scarborough joining the Football League.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“His active involvement with a number of charities and as chairman of the Scarborough and Whitby Conservative Association helped influence much good decision making which affected many people in Scarborough.

“He leaves behind him a legacy which will be remembered for many years to come both in his public life and in his friendship to so many people who, like me, had the pleasure of working with him.”

In 1997 Mr Fawcett was presented with a Chairman’s Award by the Scarborough Civic Society in recognition of his many years of service to the community.

Mr Fawcett is survived by two daughters, Sue and Sally-Ann, and two grandchildren, Douglas and Joanna.

Related topics: