Robert Gordon

Hertfordshire County Council has announced the death of Robert Gordon, leader of the County Council since 2007.

Following this very sad news Robert’s wife, Susie, has been in touch to confirm funeral arrangements as below:-

The funeral will take place on Monday 30 October at 2.00pm at St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1BY.  Light refreshments will be served afterwards.  Susie has said that all are welcome to pay their respects.

The private committal will be on the following day, for family members only.

Those of you that know the Cathedral will be aware that there is no parking on site and it would, therefore, be advisable to car share and/or arrive in good time before the funeral.

No Flowers

Susie has requested no flowers please.  However,  should you wish to make a donation, it can be made via the funeral directors Daniel Robinson & Sons – either through their website or by calling 01279 655477.  (Any donations will be divided between Mount Vernon, Paul Strickland Scanner Fund, Watford School of Music and Hertfordshire Community Fund).

A book of condolences is being compiled at County Hall.

Statements in Memoriam

David Williams, Deputy Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said:

I am so saddened at this news. Rob was a wonderful colleague, hugely respected locally and nationally and a public servant in the truest sense of the word. Robert made Hertfordshire the County of Opportunity and worked relentlessly to achieve this. He will be sorely missed by all those he knew.

Richard Thake, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council “We have suffered such a terrible loss for the whole county. He was a remarkable man, who used his immense knowledge of Hertfordshire, to work tirelessly and deliver cost effective services. Everyone, who had the privilege of working with him, fully understood the huge contribution he made for the whole county.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, speaking on behalf of the Liberal Democrat group at the County Council, said: “Rob’s passing is not only a sad loss for his friends and family but he was also a true champion for Hertfordshire. Whilst we may have been political opponents, he was always someone you could talk with to reach agreement on common issues to improve and protect the county.

Judi Billing, speaking on behalf of the Labour Group at Hertfordshire County Council, said:

I was shocked and tremendously sad to hear of the death of Rob Gordon on Friday afternoon. He and I were, of course, poles apart in our political beliefs and world picture but I had tremendous admiration for his quiet and considered style of leadership, his personal kindness to me at a very difficult time in my life, and mostly for his genuine commitment to local government and the role of elected councillors.

Rob went to considerable lengths to ensure that every single county councillor had the resources, even at a time of huge government cuts, to make a difference in the communities that they represented, and to ensure that all political voices were heard in every debate on every subject of the council’s business.