Dave Wilcox – 9/1/47 to 20/7/24

I was sorry to hear about Dave Wilcox’s passing away over the weekend.

Dave was a Derbyshire County Councillor elected at first for the Glossop West division in 1981 before changing following boundary reviews to the Etherow division in 2005, standing down in 2017.

Dave was also the Borough Councillor on High Peak for the Padfield Ward from 2003 to 2007.

During his time on the County Council, Dave carried out various senior roles, including as chair/exec member for Education, a role from which he provided significant support to adult education, and the Early Excellence Centre on Gamesley.

Dave was also Chair of the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit), the leading local government think tank from 2003 to June 2014. He was also a former Chair of the Local Government Association European and International Board, Vice Chair of the County Councils Network, and leader of its Labour Group.

Dave was also a former Board Member of the Basic Skills Agency, the Improvement and Development Agency, and the National Foundation for Educational Research, a former Executive Member of USDAW, the shop workers’ Union, and a past Chair of East Midlands Airport plc.

In 2007, he was awarded the OBE for services to local government. In 2013, he was Chair of the County Council, and in 2022, he was made an honourary Alderman of the County Council.

Dave’s commitment to community-supporting activities was unwavering. He was one of the driving forces behind the founding of the Glossopdale Foodbank. He was always ready to go the extra mile to support those in need, even if it sometimes meant dressing up as an elf at the Glossop Christmas lights.

Dave’s influence as a legendary campaigner in Labour Party circles was profound. He was always the one to spur the team on to knock at one more door or deliver one more leaflet, and his innovative campaign ideas were instrumental in the party’s success.

As a Councillor, Dave was a great source of knowledge and information. If you needed anything from the County, Dave either knew someone or someone who could find it. He also had some great tales from the years gone by.

In recent years, Dave has suffered from severe illness, which limited what he was able to do. Still, for me, the whirlwind that Dave will remain in my memories, and I’m sure the memories of many others of everything he could support and helped put together.

In line with Dave’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial services. The family has asked his friends to gather, have a nice meal, and raise a glass in his memory. I offer my and Bob’s condolences to Joan, Ellie, and the family.