Tributes to popular former Council chairman
HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a popular former chairman of Stratford District Council who died on 3rd October.
Stuart Beese, who also served one term as a town councillor from 2003, died aged 70, having been diagnosed with cancer in June.
Stuart was born in Middleton in Greater Manchester and apprenticed as a butcher before joining Llyons Tea Company in 1969 as a salesman. He married his first wife Stella Kilcourse in the same year and had two children Caerys and Nicholas before moving from South Yorkshire to Stratford, where Stuart had become a regional sales manager.
Stuart joined the local Round Table, becoming chairman and playing an instrumental role in organising the first Stratford Carnival. Stella and Stuart divorced in 1985 before Stuart met Julie Quiney, whom he went on to marry in Tiddington in 1990.
The couple had a son Alexander in 1991 and in 1997 after 28 years with Llyons Tetley, Stuart took early retirement to run the Craig Cleeve Guest House on Shipston Road with Julie.
In 2003 he stood for election to Stratford Town Council, serving for one term, before successfully deciding to canvas as the Conservative candidate for Alveston with the District Council in 2005.
Stuart served on the Cabinet with portfolio for planning before becoming chairman of the council in 2007, when he also joined the Town Trust committee. Becoming disillusioned with local party politics he resigned from local government in 2009 to concentrate on running the busy guest house with Julie.
They both, along with Alex, enjoyed many happy years there and made many friends both from this country and overseas. Stuart retired from the hospitality industry at the age of 66, selling the guest house when the family moved to Luddington Road. He was a keen golfer since moving to Warwickshire and had many friends at both Broadway Golf Club and Stratford Golf Club.
He was also a member of Monolithos Lodge in Leamington Spa. Julie said: “As a husband he was loving, kind and generous and as a father he was loved, admired and respected. He would have been truly humbled by the condolences that have been left.”
Paying tribute Cllr Lynda Organ, District Councillor (Bridgetown) and Resources and Property Portfolio at the District Council said: “Stuart was a dedicated and hardworking Councillor and I shall miss him.
“He was also a good friend and very hospitable – we spent many hours together, and with others, at Craig Cleeve working on Council matters and ‘chewing the cud’. “He had a unique ability to mix people together to get results and working with him was a great pleasure.”
Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: “We are sorry to hear of the passing of Stuart Beese who was a District Councillor for eight years, (from 2002 to 2010) and Chairman of the District Council from 2007 to 2008. Our sincere condolences go to his family at this time.”
Stratford Town Council were also keen to pay tribute, Stratford mayor Cllr John Bicknell saying: “We were all saddened to hear of the death of Stuart who I remember as an astute member of our Finance Committee.
“His keen intellect was coupled with a dry sense of humour and he was sadly missed when he chose not to stand for re-election. The Council’s loss was golf’s undoubted gain, Stuart was an excellent golfer which he described as ‘his passion.’ We send our sincere condolences to Julie and his family.”
He will be fondly remembered by many and sadly missed by Julie, Alex, Caerys, Nic and grandchildren Imogen and Gabriel.
A cremation is to be held at Oakley Wood crematorium on October 22nd 2pm followed by a reception at Stratford Golf Club.
