Tributes to Cllr Wyndham Northam

Date published: 29th October 2018

Cllr Northam was much admired and hugely respected by those he worked with, both officers and politicians.

Cllr Northam, who was 89 years old, gave a lifetime to public service. He served a total of 15 years for the Mundesley ward on the District Council, including seven years on the Cabinet. He brought a great deal of expertise to the Council working on his finance portfolio.

He was a Norfolk County Councillor for a total of 12 years and its Chairman in 2008-9, finishing in 2017, and a member of Mundesley Parish Council (its Chairman in 1997/98).
He also had previous local government service as a member of Mountain Ash Urban District Council in Wales from 1959 to 1972 (its Chairman in 1965).
He served in the Royal Navy from 1945 to 1954, specialising in radar and communications, and worked as a station master and traffic controller for British Rail from 1954 to 1963. From then until 1992, he was a member of a major finance house, specialising in administration and credit control.
Cllr Northam is survived by his wife Sylvia and their son James.

Cllr John Lee, Leader of North Norfolk District Council and Conservative Group Leader, said: “Wyndham was a true gentleman and I will miss his wise advice, counsel and sense of humour.
“We have lost a man who dedicated his life to public service, a man who worked tirelessly for the people of Mundesley and North Norfolk.”

Cllr Sarah Butikofer, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, said: “On behalf of our group, I would like to express my deep and sincere condolences to Wyndham's family, friends and political colleagues at this sad time.
“Wyndham was a true gentleman who gave many years dedicated and valuable service to the people of Mundesley and the wider community of North Norfolk, and will be sadly missed by all who had the very great pleasure of knowing him.”

Cllr Angie Fitch-Tillett, Independent Group Deputy Leader, said: “I have known and worked with Wyndham for more than 15 years. He has commanded a huge amount of respect and we will all miss him.
“On behalf of my group, I would say that he has been a friend to all of us.”

This morning, staff at North Norfolk District Council were invited to pay their respects to Cllr Northam at a meeting of Cabinet, and those who attended marked a minute's silence in his memory.