Tributes paid to former Droitwich councillor and Healthwatch chair Peter Pinfield who has died, aged 73 - The Droitwich Standard

Tributes paid to former Droitwich councillor and Healthwatch chair Peter Pinfield who has died, aged 73

Droitwich Editorial 30th Jan, 2021 Updated: 30th Jan, 2021   0

TRIBUTES have been paid to the chairman of Worcestershire Healthwatch and former Droitwich Labour councillor Peter Pinfield who died yesterday, aged 73.

Town Councillor Alan Humphries described Mr Pinfield as an ‘inspiration’ and said: “He dedicated 40 years of public service and everything he did he did for Droitwich.

“One councillor once described him as ‘Mr Droitwich’ and it summed him up perfectly.

“If I could achieve a tiny fraction of what he managed, I will have done extremely well.




“Away from politics we would also always chat about Birmingham City – he was a fellow Blues fan and we would always discuss our frustrations which come with following the club.”

Worcestershire County Councillor Richard Udall said on Facebook: “Peter was Leader of the Worcestershire Labour Group for over ten years in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. He was both a County and District Councillor for Droitwich.


“We will miss him, sleep well comrade.”

Mr Pinfield was a real Droitwich Spa stalwart and community champion.

In 2017 he became only the fifth person in the history of Wychavon District to be made an Honorary Alderman, eight months after having the same title bestowed upon him in Droitwich Spa.

Mr Pinfield was first elected to Wychavon District Council in 1979 and served on the authority for 32 years, representing both Droitwich West and Droitwich East.

He moved to Droitwich from Birmingham with his wife Pat and family and became immediately involved with the town’s Allotments Association, sparking a lifetime of commitment to the community.

He went on to serve as a county councillor, governor of several schools, has been involved with the Diabetic Association and launched the town’s first Music and Arts Festival among other achievements.

When the Standard spoke to him in 2017 after he was made an Honorary Alderman he charted his greatest achievement as securing a £2million commitment from both Wychavon and Worcestershire councils, enabling a multi-million deal to restore Droitwich’s canals to their former glory.

He also secured the funding to replace the outdates flat roofs on the council housing stock on The Westlands, had a lead role in attempting to save the Highfield Hospital, was a chairman of the Vax Adventure Playground and helped bring in the road safety measures near the high school, affectionately known as ‘the Pinfield bumps’.

Mr Pinfield then headed up Healthwatch, Worcestershire’s independent watchdog for all health and social care services, and also held a place on a number of NHS organisations, representing patients, carers and service users.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Droitwich Standard newspaper.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.