In remembrance of ex-councillor Wilfrid 'Blake' Stimpson

Posted 3 weeks ago in Brackley Town Council

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of ex-Councillor Wilfrid "Blake" Stimpson, on Sunday 8 September 2024 in Exeter.  

Born in Redcar, Yorkshire in 1935, the family moved to Norwich just before World War Two, and then on to Oxford just before the hostilities ended. Blake attended Southfield Grammar School and later joined the Royal Ordinance Corps to complete his National Service. 

Following this he went on to successfully complete a teacher training course in York. After which he returned to Oxford for his first teaching post at Garsington Primary School. He then moved to Wheatley Primary School, as Deputy Head.  

His move to Brackley came in Sept 1973, when he was appointed Head Teacher at the newly created Southfield Primary School on Banbury Road, Brackley.  He remained at Southfield as Head, until his retirement in 2000. 

In June 1976 he joined Brackley Town Council and in 1980-1981 and again in 1991-1992 his fellow councillors elected him as town mayor. He also represented Brackley residents as a district councillor at South Northants Council (SNC) from 1987-2015. In 1998-1999 he was appointed chairman at SNC. 

During his time in Brackley he was involved with various clubs and organisations. He was a founding member of the European Association and Brackley Rotary Club. Additionally, he was a founder and the chairman of both the Brackley Music School (which was based at Southfield School) and the Brackley Music Festival. He was also a member and past chairman of the Banbury / Brackley Citizens Advice Bureau, and spent a considerable time as a governor of the Oxford University Hospital Trust, the local Ambulance Trust and the Brackley Cottage Hospital Trust. 

In 2020 it was announced in the somewhat delayed Queen’s Birthday Honours list, that Cllr Blake Stimpson had been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for "Services to the community of Brackley, Northamptonshire". 

In 2021, he did not seek re-election to the Town Council and after 45 years of service as a councillor he was presented with a crystal glass plaque commemorating his unstinting  service to the community. 

More recently ex-Councillor Wilfrid "Blake" Stimpson chose to spend time with his daughter down in Devon as well as here in Brackley . 

Our thoughts go out to his family at this very difficult time.  Further details of the funeral arrangements will be posted in due course. 

Brackley Town Council