Many of you will be aware of the untimely death last week of my colleague and friend Paul Fishwick, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for Active Travel, Transport, and Highways.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, which has lost a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.
The wider community, for its part, has lost a dedicated public servant.
Before he became a councillor, Paul spent his working life as a highways engineer in local government in Surrey. Once he retired, he decided to carry on contributing by becoming involved in local politics in his own community, serving both as a parish and borough councillor for Winnersh.
Neither council officers nor councillors are always held in high regard. That low opinion may sometimes be justified, but all council officers I have encountered, and nearly all elected councillors, do what they do because they have a strong sense of duty and public service.
Paul exemplified these qualities. He worked tirelessly for the public good, giving up many, many hours each day to council duties. He had the political courage to make tough decisions as an executive member because he believed that doing the right thing for the long-term interests of the people of the borough was more important than seeking short-term popularity.
He was respected across the council at Wokingham for his expert knowledge of the local highways network. He put that knowledge to good use at question time in the council chamber, where he provided impressively full and well-informed answers, often laced with disarming humour.
He was liked by all who worked with him. In his dealings with council officers, elected councillors, and members of the public, Paul was unfailingly polite, courteous, and helpful. Everyone recognized him as one of the good guys.
The respect in which he was held, even by political opponents, was reflected in the generous messages I have received over the last week from councillors of all parties.
These messages remind us of something that can all too easily be forgotten in the cut and thrust of political debate – whatever may divide us, there is much on which we can agree.
It’s a shame that it takes the loss of a universally respected councillor to bring this fundamental truth into focus. We should remind ourselves of it every day.
Politics does not have to be about aggressive and undermining attacks on opponents designed to cast doubt on their integrity; it does not have to be about denying that the other side has any worthwhile ideas to contribute. It can and should be about honest and respectful debate, trying to find common ground, reconciling differences, and building consensus.
Paul’s untimely departure from our lives has naturally left many of us feeling deeply saddened. All of us in the Liberal Democrat councillor group feel the loss acutely.
For his friends on the council, however, there is a positive that we are trying to cling onto. The best way we can honour Paul is to carry on his good work and be inspired by his sense of public service.
