Arthur Preece OBE (1928 – 2026) was a figure of both regional and national stature in the Liberal Party, and then the Liberal Democrats. He will be greatly missed by those he worked with and supported in the party, as well as by his nieces and their families and his Church, the three passions of his life.
Born in Sheffield, one of four brothers, Arthur spent a period in the Army from the age of 18, later moving into NHS service in 1954. He developed his professional skills in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire before moving North to Northumberland in 1967 where he eventually became responsible for managing ten hospitals.
During his time in Northumberland, in 1973 he joined the Liberal Party, immediately making an impact. As a public servant he had to act behind the scenes, but nevertheless threw himself into supporting Alan Beith, now Lord Beith, in his initial election and then re-elections as MP. Lord Beith has since described his role as “crucial”, noting both his energy and his attention to detail. Another Northumberland campaigner described how, after moving into a new area brought into the constituency by a Boundary Review, Arthur built up a small active group and, with his methodical, patient and determined efforts, enabled it to win a council seat. This in turn helped to pave the way to another successful re-election for Alan Beith in the Berwick constituency.
This model of campaigning, so fundamental to our party’s success across the country, stood Arthur in good stead when he moved to Hartlepool, itself not obvious Liberal territory. Alongside his colleagues they began to win more seats, with Arthur’s beloved ward, Fens, one of the first in 1988. Over time, he and his colleagues turned Fens into a stronghold of three councillors as well as preparing the ground in other wards. His efforts reached their zenith in 2000 when, having previously extended their reach, the Liberal Democrats won a swathe of wards they had never won before and, in a hung council, Arthur was elected leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, a position which he held for two years. During those 24 years Arthur was also twice elected to Cleveland County Council in 1989 and 1993, serving until the council was abolished in 1996.He also stood for Parliament twice, as candidate for Hartlepool in 1982 and South Shields in 1992.
During his heyday Arthur’s work was recognised well beyond Hartlepool. The neighbouring local party of Stockton was kickstarted with his support in their first by-election win, and in 1988 he was awarded an OBE for “political and public service.” Those services had included his seminal contribution to Liberal and then Liberal Democrat health policy, where as a member of the Liberal Health Panel he assisted a “Who’s Who” of parliamentary health spokespeople; Michael Meadowcroft, Simon Hughes, Ronnie Fearn, Archy Kirkwood and Charles Kennedy.
Arthur’s time in elected office ended in 2012, at a challenging time for Lib Dem councillors across the North East. That was the same year that he became an Alderman of Hartlepool Borough Council and was awarded the first ever North East Liberal Democrats President’s Award to recognise his outstanding service to the whole region.
Arthur died at his new home, Lister House in Ripon, on March 10th 2026, shortly after a brief hospitalisation following a fall in which he broke his hip.
It is rightly said that the Liberal Democrats of today stand on the shoulders of giants. Though not a tall man, Arthur was a true giant of our party.
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6 Comments
What a great loss. A gentleman but Liberal to his core. Not to be underestimated. Pleased to have worked with him on more than a couple of occasions. Thoughts and prayers with family. Be proud he made a real difference.
Arthur was the chair of the Lib Dem Group on Cleveland County Council when it expanded to 10 members in 1989. It was a privilege to work with him
One word to sum him up: indefatigable
He was the Constituency Secretary in Berwick when I briefly worked as Constituency Agent to Alan Beith there in the mid-1970s – my 1st job in the Party. A kind, gentle but very determined man who worked tirelessly for the Liberal cause. I’m very sorry to hear of his passing.
A kindly, effective, decent, caring and honest man who had great political judgement. One of the champions of “ALC” approach in the 1980s when many of us were working to build a base for the party that would demonstrate liberal values and enable it to survive whatever traumas there were in general elections. This work paid off in later general elections when we make a national force again. I particularly remember working closely with him in the 2004 Hartlepool by-election which we came very close to winning. RIP Arthur.
I met Arthur, when I was selected as the Hartlepool Parliamentary candidate. I came to know Arthur very well. We thought we would have the run of the place as we tried to save the local A&E, from closure. Mandelson had a reputation for visiting Hartlepool as often as Farage visits Clacton. Unfortunately the Hinduja Passport scandal & his resignation from government made Peter Mandelson very much our problem as we approached the 2001 General Election. Arthur was bemused by the choice of Jody Dunn as the parliamentary candidate for the 2004 by election following Peter Mandelson resigning from Parliament. None of us understood why the strongest candidate Reg Clark was not shortlisted. A bizarre incident on the A19 on the evening of the selection meeting involving my car & two flat bed trucks almost prevented my arrival at the selection meeting at all. Some might say it was accidental. Some might not. My own brother Peter had died 12 weeks previously, following a stroke aged only 55. I was not in the best condition when I arrived at the selection meeting as one of only two candidates. After the selection of Jody Dunn, the by election team would only listen to her local journalist boyfriend Neil Hunter. Arthur & I were largely sidelined by the by election team, who refused for the most part to accept there was any threat at all to the local A&E; which closed in 2008. I do not think Arthur ever recovered from the disappointment of Jody Dunns selection as the candidate & the loss of the 2004 by election 2004.