Peterborough council working on long lasting tribute to former mayor Charles Swift

Peterborough City Council are working on plans to create ‘a lasting memory’ of long serving former city councillor Charles Swift following his death yesterday.

Mr Swift holds the record for being the longest serving councilor in the country, having served for 62 years in the city. He is also the youngest ever mayor of Peterborough.

He passed away yesterday (Tuesday) following a battle with cancer.

Today current leader of the council, Wayne Fitzgerald, said there were plans on how the city could remember the impact Charles had on Peterborough.

Cllr Fitzgerald said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of former councillor and friend Charles Swift. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family.

“Charles' service to the council and the city was a great achievement, serving an incredible 62 years as a councillor. He played a key role in the biggest development period of our city in the 1960s and at the point he retired he was believed to be the longest serving city councillor in the country.

"Charles' contribution to the community in Peterborough and more widely was exceptional - he cared so much for our city and always went out of his way to help people.

"He will be greatly missed by so many, not least those members and officers who were lucky enough to serve with him on the council. We will be considering how we can create a lasting memory of Charles in our city."

Mr Swift represented the Labour Party, and also stood as an independent councillor during his time in the city.

However, tributes have come in from across the political spectrum.

The Conservative North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara said: “As the longest serving councillor in British history and a former Mayor of Peterborough, I know Charles will be fondly remembered by all who knew him, and many others whose lives he touched in some way.

“Charles played a key role in many important local issues, over many years, and he leaves a firm imprint in the local community.

“He helped many people, including showing his generosity in welcoming Ugandan refugees to Peterborough in 1972, which is testament to a man who always put others first.”

Fellow Conservative Peterborough MP Paul Bristow said: “I am very saddened to hear about the death of one of Peterborough’s favourite son’s Charlie Swift. On top of the death of former Mayor Pat Nash - we have lost two servants of our City.

“Charlie was simply a phenomenon. He was the country’s longest serving councillor - being first elected to North ward on 1 July 1954 when Sir Winston Churchill was still Prime Minister.

“Before he retired he was a former Mayor, City Council Leader, and a stalwart of the Labour movement. He was also a proud servant of the National Union of Railwaymen.

“He left the Labour Party many years ago but continued as an ‘independent’ councillor. Although only our MP since December 2019, I found his advice and friendship sincere and very useful.”

Nicola Day, leader of the Green Party in the city added: “The Green Party would like to send our thoughts to Charles Swift's friends and family and acknowledge the great contributions he made to our city as a civic leader. He always put Peterborough and the people of Peterborough first and he will be greatly missed.”

Cllr Nick Sandford, who served as leader of the Liberal Democrats on the city council during the later years of Mr Swift’s time on the council, said: “Charles must rank as one of the greatest figures in the history of the City of Peterborough. He was leader of the City Council at the time of new town development in the 1970s and his vision and passion for the City was key to its success.

"I only really knew Charles in the later years of his record stint as a city councillor, by which time he was no longer in the Labour Group and had become an independent.

"I didn’t always agree with him but I always respected his knowledge, experience and commitment to the success of our City. He was also a man of strong faith, being associated with the Salvation Army over many years, and could often be seen around the City on his bicycle.”

The Peterborough Telegraph has contacted all the group leaders on Peterborough City Council for tributes to Mr Swift.