Tribute to Dave Wilcox OBE 9/1/1947-20/7/2024
There have been many richly deserved tributes this week to Dave Wilcox after his death on 20 July. Dave served as Labour councillor on Derbyshire County Council from 1981 to 2017 for the Etherow ward. He was devoted to his constituents in Hadfield, Gamesley and Tintwistle over those many years, and dedicated to representing their interests and needs. His commitment to public service included acting as Chair of the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), being ambassador for Derbyshire at international events and the continual fight against poverty, inequality and discrimination. The list could go on. His impressive breadth of activity was recognised by an OBE in 2007 and the award of DCC Honorary Alderman in 2022. A rare and popular politician, he reached across party boundaries to seek common ground and to enact change. Dave was a truly active member of the local Labour Party, first in the Hadfield, Padfield and Gamesley ward and then the merged Glossopdale ward. He was also a long-term member of the Labour Club and will be missed by many friends and former colleagues here. Dave is survived by his wife, Joan, and daughter, Ellie. Our thoughts are with both at this time.
Neil Swannick adds:
“Dave Wilcox and I were Labour members of the UK delegation to the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) for the five-year mandate between 2010 and 2015, though I believe that Dave had also served previous mandates. Dave was elected Leader of the UK Labour Group on the CoR, a position which he fulfilled dutifully and sensitively. He kept our team together and was adept at negotiating with fellow CoR members from across the EU, whether they were part of the wider Socialist Group (PES) or in other groups. At that time, prior to Brexit, the UK Labour Group played an important part in boosting the voting numbers of the PES progressive alliance on the Committee and we punched above our weight in policy-making through opinions on EU legislation. Dave’s network of contacts across the EU continued after the UK regrettably pulled out of the EU and he regularly visited his pals in remote parts of Eastern Europe. I was honoured to serve as Dave’s Deputy Leader and remember our time together in Brussels and other European cities with great fondness.”