Agenda item

Assembly noted with deep regret that Councillor Nirmal Singh Sher Gill had tragically passed away on Monday 25 February 2013.

In introducing the report, the Chief Executive paid tribute to Nirmal’s honourable and upstanding nature.

The Leader of the Council led tributes from the Assembly stating that Nirmal had been a supportive and loyal friend and colleague, who would be greatly missed by his family, the Sikh community, everyone in this Chamber and the residents not only of Longbridge ward but the whole borough for his hard work in the community.

Members commented on the high regard and respect people had for Nirmal, a gentle giant of a man who worked tirelessly on community cohesion and who was supportive of and reassuring to his colleagues.  He will be remembered for the countless positive things that he did for the borough and also for the Help for Heroes Charity during his Mayoral Year 2010-11.  Members also recalled his great 1990 election victory when he had won his seat by just 26 votes from the sitting Conservative councillor in a marginal seat.  When Nirmal stood for re-election in 2010 he won his seat by a huge majority, which was testament to the esteem that residents held him in.

Councillor Rocky Gill thanked Members on behalf of himself and his family for all their kind words at this difficult time and thanked those who had donated to the Help for Heroes charity.  Councillor Gill referred to the last Assembly meeting that his father had chaired with great aplomb and to the excellent speech he had given that same evening in support of his application to become Mayor again.

He went on to say that his father was a very religious man who contributed much to the Gurdwara – Singh Sabha London East.  He came from humble beginnings in the Punjab and never forgot where he came from, which was a message he impressed on his children.  His ambition had always been to become Mayor of the borough.  He had wanted to make the most of his Mayoral year and attended more than 500 engagements, through which he raised a record amount of money for a very worthy cause.  He was an advocate of community cohesion, which was something he practised.  He ensured that the Mayor’s parlour should be open to all and promoted the message that we should always work together and not focus on our differences but on our similarities.  He had seen his children graduate from university and recognised the importance of education as a way of supporting social mobility.  Equality and diversity was also important to him, becoming aware in his early days as a councillor of the lack of senior female directors and councillors.

Reflecting on his Mayoral year, Councillor Gill regarded the Royal Anglian Regiment parade through the borough and taking the salute as being one of his father's finest moments.

In closing, Councillor Gill paid tribute to his father as his mentor and best friend, whose legacy will live on through his children.

All stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.