Tributes paid to mayors’ chauffeur

TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-serving civic chauffeur, who became a well-known face in his town after driving its mayors around for more than a decade.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th May 2011, 07:00 BST

Fred Edwards, who has been the driver for the mayors of Rotherham since 1998, died in the town’s hospice last Saturday after a long battle with cancer.

As well as carrying out his driving duties, the 56-year-old conducted guided tours of Rotherham Town Hall for hundreds of visitors and schoolchildren.

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Mr Edwards, a former Yorkshire Traction bus driver from Rawmarsh, first joined the council in 1990 as a courier and immediately took an interest in civic life.

He was an experienced toastmaster and mace-bearer for the authority and he was described as “well-known and well-liked” by present mayor Coun Rose McNeely.

She added: “Speaking on behalf of every councillor who has been the mayor of Rotherham I can say that Fred’s passing away will be a terrible loss to everyone who knew him.

“He was an invaluable help to all mayors over the years because he had a huge wealth of knowledge and advice on both the mayor’s role and the civic history.”

Related topics:Rotherham