Leicester Liberal Democrats have shared their tribute to former Lord Mayor and Council Leader, Roger Blackmore, who died last month.
Roger was a lifelong Liberal and for many decades the pre-eminent Liberal personality in Leicester, respected and admired by many irrespective of party affiliation.
Bernard Greaves recalls first coming across Roger in 1967 in a parliamentary by-election at Brierley Hill in the West Midlands. The Liberal Party had decided not to fight the seat, but the Young Liberals fielded their own candidate supported by hundreds of activists from around the country. They all ran around making a lot of noise to no electoral effect whatsoever.
Even then Roger stood out as an effusive, energetic, campaigner encouraging everyone to enjoy themselves as much as possible. Having moved to Leicester in 1963 when he became a student at Leicester University, joining the local party whose brief revival that year quickly faded.
Roger managed to establish himself as the main voice for Liberalism in the City as well as contesting the Gainsborough constituency in Lincolnshire. He fought the seat four times, his campaigns being the stuff of legend.
Roger was born to be a parliamentary candidate, a larger-than-life personality his campaigns were fun to be part of but deadly serious in intent. He secured over 30% of the vote three times. In 1979, with the Liberal party facing a calamity of an election after the Lib/Lab pact, Roger still retained the same share of the vote as in the 1974 elections.
Asked what his secret was he confessed that his Labour opponent, Willie Bach, had been contesting a city council seat in Leicester on the same day and Roger christened him “Billy two seats”. The name stuck and Roger retained his second place with 30% plus share of the vote.
Roger’s performances at successive general elections had been noticed by senior figures in the national party. Roger had been brought up in rural Devon and visited family members regularly. When the North Devon local party began the search for a candidate to replace Jeremy Thorpe Roger was encouraged to stand. He was duly selected and set about rebuilding the local party that had been shattered by the Thorpe scandal and the loss of the seat in 1979. Despite increasing the share of the vote, the combination of a divided local party, the Tory landslide of 1983 and continuing memories of the Thorpe’s disgrace thwarted Roger’s ambition to be an MP in his native Devon.
Following this disappointment Roger threw himself into his work at Charles Keene college and developed his interests in writing, travelling in the UK and local and national political history. A new generation of Young Liberals had revitalised the Leicester party and Roger settled into an “elder statesman” role, often playing devil’s advocate to test the youthful disciples of pavement politics, whilst organising social and fundraising events. Chief amongst these events were the annual Burns night supper and an apple harvesting event both of which showed Roger in his element as a warm and entertaining host.
In 1992 a series of events brought Roger back into a frontline role in politics. A proposal by the Labour run City council to build on Western Park was met with vocal opposition from residents. A hastily cobbled together Focus was distributed and received a tremendous response. Shortly afterwards a Conservative councillor resigned, Pete Coley was selected as candidate for the Lib Dems with Roger as his agent. Pete duly elected to the City Council in the by-election, and Roger was elected to the County Council the following May.
Pete and Roger made a fantastic team. The calm, steady, quietly effective Pete Coley balanced the effusive, non-stop Roger. Together they fought off very strong Labour challenges in 1995 and 1996. Roger had become one of the driving forces in the local party. He played a key part in a stunning council by-election in North Braunstone in 1996 and then masterminded a further by-election victory in Mowmacre in 1998. At the same time, he was a leading member of the council group, providing spirited but good natured opposition to a tired Labour administration.
Assuming the leadership in 2002 Roger led the Council group to victory in 2003 and became the leader of the council. Roger led the council with considerable skill as issues that had been left for years by the Labour administration were tackled head on. But issues within the group took their toll, distracting from much of the good work done by the administration, and led to a significant defeat in 2007. Roger retained his seat as an opposition Councillor and shortly afterwards became Lord Mayor, another role for which he was uniquely suited. Undertaking a bewildering number of events with gusto, his detailed knowledge of the history of the city and his deep love of its different communities shone through with his Mayoralty being one of the most successful in decades. He kept his seat all the way to his retirement in 2011.
Roger was great company either as a host or whilst holding court in the snug at the Sir Charles Napier. Always entertaining with an amusing anecdote, historical reference or rueful joke, often at his own expense, he would light up a room and quickly build a sense of camaraderie with often disparate groups of people. A lifelong Liberal he had a sharp intelligence, a deep understanding of political philosophy and an ability to explain complex ideas in a thoughtful but approachable manner.
Achieving political success later in life allowed him to “enjoy the moment” first as group leader and secondly as Lord Mayor. He made a huge contribution to both Liberal Democrat politics and civic life in the city. He will be missed but remembered with a smile by everyone who knew him.
5 Comments
I am sorry to read of Roger’s death as I knew him well after I arrived in Leicester as a student in 1974 to find the party at a very low ebb. Roger was one of a handful who kept it going even as the National Front pushed us into fourth place in almost every ward. He also played a notable role in the Inter Racial Solidarity Campaign and similar bodies.
If anyone had told me then that 30 years later I would do a press interview with Roger as council leader I’d have been astonished. His role in making the Leicester party survive and then revive was enormous.
Roger was an amazing character and one of several key campaigners in Leicester in the early 90s from whom I learned my campaigning skills.
That 1992 city by-election in Western Park ward was an amazing result and a great campaign to be part of. I’ve still got my leaflets from that one.
Roger was a committed Liberal and a great example of how to make politics fun and human.
I must have met Roger Blackmore in 1962 when he was a student at Leicester University. He and my father, Edward Rushworth, were leading stalwarts of Liberalism in Leicestershire. Roger’s determination and passion for the cause never dimmed. Hilary,, his wife, was captivated by the same enthusiasms.
I met Roger only once but the circumstances show his quality. While PPC for North Devon, and no doubt also busy in Leicester, he came and spoke to the Liberal society at Leeds university. It was so kind and generous of him to find the time. And he entertained us with tales of campaigning which showed his calibre.
I remember Roger fondly a great raconteur and wonderful source of inspiration and advice when i first entered politics not to mention practical help. He always referred to me a ‘young” mark cox even when i had turned 40!
Many a time we went to the glee club together particularly remember Harrogate in 1987 though how i remember i don’t know.