Minutes:
The Mayor reported to the meeting the sad news of the death of Councillor Pat Egan who passed away on Saturday 19 July 2014 .
The Mayor informed the meeting that Councillor Egan (Pat) was first elected in 2006 for Woodside ward, then The Mayor commented that Pat was a man of strong character, in the old fashioned sense of the word, i.e. that he had strong moral values and principles, in this case, catholic and Labour. As a teacher and ex-deputy head teacher he was passionate about education being the route to improve the lives of our children.
The Mayor commented that Pat had always said there were no excuses for not raising the expectations and achievement of children regardless of their backgrounds. As chair of St Thomas More school, he frequently reminded people that the majority of its pupils were from the most disadvantaged areas in the borough, and yet it was graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted just over a year ago. The Mayor reported that earlier this year it was announced that St Thomas More was the most improved school in the country, and Pat was widely acknowledged as a driving force behind this improvement.
The Mayor also commented that Pat was very committed to his wife, children and the whole family.
The Mayor further commented that to her personally he was a very good friend, a source of kind support and critical when necessary. In June, he had seconded her nomination as Mayor with his usual self-deprecating humour and encouragement for which the mayor would always be grateful. In his last text message on Tuesday, he said, ‘when you meet with triumph and disaster treat both imposters the same! ‘.
The Mayor also advised that she knew that Pat did not like pomp and ceremony, but that it was right that the council would be organising a civic memorial for him in August.
The Mayor concluded that she would ask that people to keep their tributes until August but would like to invite the Leader of the Council to say a few words, followed by Councillor George Meehan, as Pat’s personal friend and ward colleague, to say a few words in tribute. The Mayor also acknowledged and conveyed to the meeting the condolences of the Minority Group, to be passed to the family of Councillor Egan.
The Mayor stated that after the tribute, there would be a minute’s silence to pay respects to Pat.
Councillor Kober addressed the meeting and commented that the Mayor’s address captured so eloquently the contribution to the Labour Group, Labour Party, and Borough, that Pat had made, though Cllr Kober suspected that he would not be very pleased with the Council for having a fitting memorial to him in August.
Cllr Kober said that many members of the Labour Group and indeed the minority group – were very fond of Pat - both past and present, and held him in extremely high regard. In ensuring that the Council would pay tribute in the right way, it would be hoped that Pat’s family could be present on the occasion, so they could understand what everyone felt about him.
Cllr Kober, in deferring to Cllr Meehan to say a few words, which felt only right and appropriate – as he was a ward colleague and a friend of Pat’s, concluded by saying that Pat was a very low key person, a very dependable person, very straight talking, and that he spoke his mind in a very comradely way and certainly in recent months it had been noticed that Pat had not been up to full strength in terms of his health and he had not been around as much as usual, and that she for one had really missed Pat just being there telling how things were and giving that friendly advice that was really just so helpful, and that whilst she would miss him personally, he would be missed by both members and officers of the Council, not just now but in the coming months and years.
Cllr Meehan addressed the meeting by stating that Councillor Egan had been held in the highest esteem by everybody in the Council. Councillor Meehan said that Pat set himself very high standards and expected the all Councillors to do the same – he didn’t have any airs and graces and he called it as he saw it. Councillor Meehan remembered that for Pat there was only one way and that was to play it straight. In many situations he would say ‘this is how I see it’ and that there was only one way of playing it. He believed in and held high standards he expected this with everyone.
Councillor Meehan referred to Pat’s very hard working and caring ethos, and as a compassionate Councillor, the people of Woodside Ward would certainly miss him. Pat had been a very committed member of the Labour Party and an extremely great campaigner. Councillor Meehan concluded that he had lost a very good friend, and that all Councillor’s thoughts must be with Ann, Sean , Sinead, and the grandchildren and the extended family, and that he sent his heart felt condolences to them this evening.
The Mayor asked, and the Council stood for a 1 minute silence in memory of Councillor Pat Egan.
At the conclusion of this the Mayor closed the meeting.