Tom Smith-Hughes: a life serving the community - Lib Dem tribute

Tom Smith Hughes - 14 July 1948 - 18 April 2012

A tribute from his Liberal Democrat colleagues (you can write your own on this page).

Tom took a job in banking in Manchester (after graduating from York University) and, while there, he met his future wife Jill at the church they both attended in 1971.

Tom married Jill in 1972 and three years later moved from Manchester to Chelmsford, to Sunrise Avenue where they always lived. Very soon after moving to Chelmsford, Jill and Tom were canvassed by the Liberal candidate in the local elections and that led to Tom becoming rapidly involved in local politics.

In those days, Tom was a foot soldier, pounding the streets, knocking on doors and delivering leaflets. Within a short time, it was apparent that he had a great deal to offer in playing a much more central part in local government.

Tom became one of the group of young Liberal activists who took Chelmsford by storm in the late 70's and early 80's.

Tom first stood for election in 1979 to Chelmsford council but narrowly missed being elected. In that election, the Liberals (as they then were) increased their numbers on the Borough Council from 9 to 19.

In 1981 the Liberals won all 5 Essex County Council seats, with Tom storming home in North Division - a seat he held for 27 years (1981 - 1989 and since 1993). In 1983 the advance continued with gaining control of the Borough Council.

Tom brought his banking experience to his Council duties - becoming widely respected for his grasp of local government finance and his work on local government pensions. He was both a front-line politician and a behind-the-scenes strategist and organiser.

His deep faith and family values gave him a breadth of awareness of the issues that faced each and every family. He viewed the improvement of public services as his priority in local politics.

At local level he campaigned to protect local green spaces, on many parking and traffic issues, and vast numbers of individual casework issues.

In 1993 the Liberal Democrats became part of the administration at Essex County Council. He could explain issues, and bring opponents to share his views, that enabled partnership and mutual respect to replace years of entrenched inter-party suspicion and hostility.

Tom played a leading role in guiding the finances of the council during that period. In particular, finding the money to double the number of three and four year olds in nursery education and the most fundamental improvement in school buildings for over 40 years.

He changed his working hours to four days a week in order to spend more time on representing the community as a Councillor. By the time he fully retired he was a Senior Economist at Nat West Bank.

Tom was elected to Chelmsford Council in 1999 to date representing Patching Hall. He was appointed a Cabinet member for the next four years and Opposition Finance spokesman since.

He was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Essex County Council in 2005. He became Leader of the Opposition in 2009 after leading the election campaign when the Liberal Democrats increased their numbers becoming the second largest party on the County Council.

Over three years he was relentless in his criticism of poor quality child protection services at County Hall.

His great strength was his mastery of local government finance and his ability to absorb and analyse complex financial documents. His knowledge of every aspect of the County Council's business gained over 27 years of service was second to none.

He had a talent for unearthing monies being wasted or unspent in council budgets and pushing for these to be redirected to frontline services. His last move on this was identifying that Chelmsford council consistently underspends by an average of £0.7m a year and therefore did not need to put up the council tax this year.

Outside of council work, Tom was also a Governor at Lawford Mead and Co-Chair of Governors at St Peter's College before it closed.

This dedication to the community had an impact on his family - with a house full of council papers. However his wife Jill says that he loved it so much that she could not have asked him to give it up. In the last couple of years, they were able to spend a little more time with their daughters and adored grandson and granddaughter.

Richard Boyd OBE DL FSA - Joint Leader of Essex CC 1993-97

Tom was truly unusual in that personal status meant nothing to him, for he had a good family and strong marriage to underpin his professional skills. He did not need a grand-stand to demonstrate his abilities - he radiated a quiet confidence.

His stubborn courage in facing cancer and his dignified end, are what anyone who knew him would expect. He let no-one down.

I miss him. My family will miss him. His colleagues will miss him. Essex is the poorer without him

Phil Harvey - former Leader of Chelmsford Borough Council

Tom was never afraid to give his opinions and argue his corner but he always did so in a courteous manner. A deeply-committed Christian, his politics reflected his world view and his desire to serve society. It was typical of him that as he neared retirement he dropped down to a four day week so that he could devote more time to his Council duties. He was a tireless worker, a great companion and a super human being. He will be sorely missed.

Mike Mackrory - Deputy Leader Essex CC Lib Dem Group

Tom was fearless in promoting and defending his liberal values and beliefs in the Council chamber and outside. Always courteous and a thorough gentleman he was widely respected by members of all political parties, council officers and within the communities he represented. Always generous with advice, his wise words will be sadly missed by everyone he worked with.

Stuart Mole - former Leader of Chelmsford Council and Parliamentary Candidate

He was passionate about his political beliefs and about his public duty. His experience and his intellectual ability was outstanding. He was wholly committed to those he was elected to serve. This integrity, commitment and determination all sprang, I felt, from his deeply-held faith. As a colleague and friend, I admired and liked him enormously. He gave so much, to so many, and we are all in his debt. At this time of great loss, our thoughts above all are with his wife, Jill, and his family.

Trevor Nunn - former Chelmsford Councillor and Tom's agent in 1979

My memory is of a man who explained what we should be doing about this or that in fairly clinical detail just to make sure we understood all the political angles. He never lost the talent of raising objections when it mattered but had become more statesmanlike as the years moved on.

Though a senior leader in the Chelmsford Lib Dems, he was not above delivering Focuses in cold weather despite his deteriorating health. He was consumed to improve our lot but never held a grudge.

Stephen Robinson - Councillor with Tom for Patching Hall; Parliamentary Candidate

I worked with Tom for nearly 20 years - first on the County Council, then as a local campaigner and now as ward colleague. He was always a reliable source of information, advice and guidance. Few people are as considerate and unfailingly helpful. I was proud to be part of his team in the 2011 election. The residents of North Chelmsford and beyond will miss him terribly, and so will I.