Emotional tributes paid to 'principled' former Milton Keynes councillor at sombre full council

Proud railway trade unionist and socialist Reg Edwards, represented the Eaton Manor Ward in east Bletchley in two stints from 1984 until he resigned from Milton Keynes Council in 2014.

Best friend Jan Lloyd, an alderwoman of the borough told Wednesday’s meeting of the full council that he had served his ward tirelessly.

“I certainly knew him not only to be a very good friend,” said alderwoman Lloyd, her voice cracking with emotion “But also an excellent and supportive colleague to work with.

“His worst hate was a meeting that was full of people talking for the sake of hearing their own voices and not getting anywhere,” she said.

“He could get very cross and it was times like that when his idiosyncratic use of English came to the fore. You may remember one occasion when he accused a section of this council of fornicating. He meant fawning.”

She said before he died Mr Edwards had asked her to mention that indiscretion. “He was happy with it, so I was not being disloyal.

“He was a kind, thoughtful and generous man. He was a big person in every way. Most especially he had a big heart and he cared deeply about people.”

Deputy mayor Cllr Andrew Geary (Cons, Newport North & Hanslope) said Mr Edwards was “never afraid to give us a real bashing in the chamber where it mattered and then go for a beer outside.”

He said Mr Edwards inadvertently helped raise money for Tory funds.

“Reg, at every meeting, would call the Tories “evil, evil Tories”.

”The Conservative councillors set up a sweepstake for how long it would take for him to say “evil Tories.”

“Every meeting it raised about twenty quid for Tory funds. Eventually someone told him and we never heard that statement again. He couldn’t bear that thought, I’m sure.”

“He was a staunch socialist and he was principled,” he said.

Cllr Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East) said: “He played a big part in my life in the last few years.

“Even though he had stepped down, he was still secretary of the Water Eaton Residents’ Association, so I still got to meet him very regularly and he still gave me a to-do list every single time I saw him.

“He was the first to tell you when you had gotten something wrong. But he was also the first resident to pick up the phone and thank me for getting something right, or you did a good job.”

He kept extensive files on everything, she added.

“I am really going to miss him, he was a touchstone in the Bletchley East community.”

Cllr Keith McLean (Cons, Olney) said Mr Edwards had made such a moving speech about not demolishing the canteen at Bletchley Park that he changed his vote.

“He had presence, he was passionate, he was personal, and was highly principled.”