Latest news with #StroudDistrictGreenParty
Western Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Tributes paid to Green Party pioneer John Marjoram after his death aged 86
John Marjoram was elected in 1986, a year after the Green Party had been formed, and was a councillor at town and district level for 35 years until he stepped down in 2021. Mr Marjoram, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, died on Saturday after a long illness. He held the record as the longest continuously serving Green Party councillor. John Marjoram, who has died aged 86, with Cate James-Hodges who is the newest-elected councillor on Stroud District Council (Stroud District Green Party/PA) An environmentalist, Quaker and pacifist, Mr Marjoram was a co-founder of the Stroud Green Party in 1985 and was elected to the district council the following year. As well as district councillor, Mr Marjoram was elected to the town council when it was formed in 1990, before becoming the UK's first Green Party mayor. He grew up in rural Essex and developed an early interest in politics during dinner table debates with his staunch Labour father and Conservative-voting mother. When he was called up for national service he cited his pacifist beliefs, and remained in an administrative role while others in his intake went to Malaysia to fight the Communists. In 1968 he moved to Stroud with his young family, drawn there by his affiliation with the Quakers, who had a strong presence in the town. Life-long pacifist Mr Marjoram seen addressing a Stop the War rally (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Catherine Braun, Green Party councillor and leader of Stroud District Council, said: 'It was John who persuaded me to stand as a paper candidate, before I was eventually elected to Stroud District Council. 'He was such an influential and inspirational activist, not just to us here in Stroud district but across the whole Green movement. He will be much missed.' Martin Baxendale, a district councillor in Stroud, said: 'John's first election leaflet for Stroud District Council in the 1980s inspired me. 'I read it, phoned him, and within half an hour he was on my doorstep talking me into joining the Green Party and standing for election to work alongside him.' As a young boy Mr Marjoram developed a love of politics from debating his parents at the dinner table (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Jonathan Edmunds added: 'John was an amazing man who inspired so many people into the Green Party and peace movement. 'A real maverick, they certainly don't make them like John any more. 'He was so passionate about politics but also cared deeply for all people and the planet. 'Stroud will be a lot quieter without him but he has certainly left a great legacy and it is for all of us to continue his work.'
South Wales Argus
19-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Tributes paid to Green Party pioneer John Marjoram after his death aged 86
John Marjoram was elected in 1986, a year after the Green Party had been formed, and was a councillor at town and district level for 35 years until he stepped down in 2021. Mr Marjoram, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, died on Saturday after a long illness. He held the record as the longest continuously serving Green Party councillor. John Marjoram, who has died aged 86, with Cate James-Hodges who is the newest-elected councillor on Stroud District Council (Stroud District Green Party/PA) An environmentalist, Quaker and pacifist, Mr Marjoram was a co-founder of the Stroud Green Party in 1985 and was elected to the district council the following year. As well as district councillor, Mr Marjoram was elected to the town council when it was formed in 1990, before becoming the UK's first Green Party mayor. He grew up in rural Essex and developed an early interest in politics during dinner table debates with his staunch Labour father and Conservative-voting mother. When he was called up for national service he cited his pacifist beliefs, and remained in an administrative role while others in his intake went to Malaysia to fight the Communists. In 1968 he moved to Stroud with his young family, drawn there by his affiliation with the Quakers, who had a strong presence in the town. Life-long pacifist Mr Marjoram seen addressing a Stop the War rally (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Catherine Braun, Green Party councillor and leader of Stroud District Council, said: 'It was John who persuaded me to stand as a paper candidate, before I was eventually elected to Stroud District Council. 'He was such an influential and inspirational activist, not just to us here in Stroud district but across the whole Green movement. He will be much missed.' Martin Baxendale, a district councillor in Stroud, said: 'John's first election leaflet for Stroud District Council in the 1980s inspired me. 'I read it, phoned him, and within half an hour he was on my doorstep talking me into joining the Green Party and standing for election to work alongside him.' As a young boy Mr Marjoram developed a love of politics from debating his parents at the dinner table (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Jonathan Edmunds added: 'John was an amazing man who inspired so many people into the Green Party and peace movement. 'A real maverick, they certainly don't make them like John any more. 'He was so passionate about politics but also cared deeply for all people and the planet. 'Stroud will be a lot quieter without him but he has certainly left a great legacy and it is for all of us to continue his work.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tributes paid to country's first Green councillor
Tributes have been paid to a councillor described as "the ultimate community activist" after his death at the age of 86. The first Green councillor and mayor to be elected in the UK, John Marjoram, who lived in Stroud, Gloucestershire, died on Saturday after a long illness. He served in town and district levels of politics for 36 years before stepping down from active politics in 2021. Adrian Oldman, coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: "He was tenacious, passionate, and always supported the underdog." More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Describing him as a "man of principle", Mr Oldman said Mr Marjoram always had time for others and had "a real commitment to help those who were in trouble". "John represented Stroud with integrity, dedication and a genuine desire to promote the well-being of people. "He was inspirational; the ultimate community activist, using the local political process to help people and improve our community. "Our hearts go out to his wife, Laura, and his family," he added. An environmentalist, quaker and pacifist, Mr Marjoram co-founded Stroud District Green Party in 1985 before being elected to the Trinity ward seat on Stroud District Council the following year. A member of the district council's planning committee, Mr Marjoram has been described as pivotal in preventing some of the town's landmarks from demolition, such as former cloth factory, Hill Paul and Woodchester Mansion. As well as serving as a district councillor, Mr Marjoram was later elected to Stroud Town Council when it was formed in 1990, before becoming the UK's first Green Party mayor. Serving as mayor for 10 civic years and deputy mayor for seven, he introduced the idea of the "Mayor's Bench", a particular bench in the town centre where he would sit every Friday so residents could talk to him. He also played active roles in campaigns such as opposing cuts to public services, the campaign against the Gulf War and to remain in the EU. Locally, he was a founding member of the Stroud Campaign Against the Ring Road in the 1970s and helped a campaign to buy Lansdown Hall for the community. He also called for the first-past-the-post voting system to be changed to proportional representation. In 2023, Mr Marjoram received the title of Stroud Town's first Honorary Freeman in recognition of his services to the community. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Stroud council leader steps down after three years Denyer won't seek re-election as Green Party co-leader Mayor census refusal case dropped Green Party Stroud District
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tributes paid to 'ultimate community activist' John Marjoram
Tributes have been paid to a councillor described as "the ultimate community activist" after his death at the age of first Green councillor and mayor to be elected in the UK, John Marjoram, who lived in Stroud, Gloucestershire, died on Saturday after a long served in town and district levels of politics for 36 years before stepping down from active politics in Oldman, coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: "He was tenacious, passionate, and always supported the underdog." Describing him as a "man of principle", Mr Oldman said Mr Marjoram always had time for others and had "a real commitment to help those who were in trouble"."John represented Stroud with integrity, dedication and a genuine desire to promote the well-being of people."He was inspirational; the ultimate community activist, using the local political process to help people and improve our community."Our hearts go out to his wife, Laura, and his family," he added. An environmentalist, quaker and pacifist, Mr Marjoram co-founded Stroud District Green Party in 1985 before being elected to the Trinity ward seat on Stroud District Council the following year.A member of the district council's planning committee, Mr Marjoram has been described as pivotal in preventing some of the town's landmarks from demolition, such as former cloth factory, Hill Paul and Woodchester well as serving as a district councillor, Mr Marjoram was later elected to Stroud Town Council when it was formed in 1990, before becoming the UK's first Green Party as mayor for 10 civic years and deputy mayor for seven, he introduced the idea of the "Mayor's Bench", a particular bench in the town centre where he would sit every Friday so residents could talk to him. 'Honorary Freeman' He also played active roles in campaigns such as opposing cuts to public services, the campaign against the Gulf War and to remain in the he was a founding member of the Stroud Campaign Against the Ring Road in the 1970s and helped a campaign to buy Lansdown Hall for the also called for the first-past-the-post voting system to be changed to proportional 2023, Mr Marjoram received the title of Stroud Town's first Honorary Freeman in recognition of his services to the community.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tributes paid to ‘inspirational' Stroud politician following death aged 86
AN 'INSPIRATIONAL' Stroud stalwart who made history as the UK's first Green Party mayor has died at the age of 86. Tributes have been paid to John Marjoram, the equal-first Green Party councillor to be elected in the UK and the longest continuously-serving Green councillor. Mr Marjoram, who died yesterday (Saturday, May 17), was also the first Green mayor in the UK and served as mayor of Stroud for 10 years. A committed pacifist, environmentalist, internationalist, Quaker and anti-racist, Mr Marjoram had lived in Stroud since 1968. He played an active part in many campaigns, including opposing cuts to public services, the campaign against the Gulf War and the movement to remain in the EU. He co-founded Stroud District Green Party in 1985. He was elected to Stroud District Council the following year, winning the Trinity ward seat and becoming the equal-first Green Party councillor to be elected in the country. As well as being a district councillor, Mr Marjoram was one of the first councillors to be elected to Stroud Town Council when it was formed in 1990. He later became mayor of Stroud, as well as the UK's first Green Party mayor. He served as mayor for 10 civic years and deputy mayor for seven. He also introduced the concept of the Mayor's Bench: a particular bench in the town centre where he would sit each Friday so that householders could come and speak to him. As a member of SDC's planning committee, Mr Marjoram also prevented many unsightly developments in the area. He was pivotal in saving the Hill Paul building in Stroud from demolition, as well as Woodchester Mansion. By two votes, he won a motion calling on the then-Tory-run council to buy the latter building so it could be refurbished, transferred to a trust and opened to the public. In addition, Mr Marjoram was a founding member of the successful Stroud Campaign Against the Ringroad. He halted county council plans to run an A road through the town centre, with the route being diverted and now running round the outskirts of the town. John was also involved with the Save our Trees campaign to stop trees from being cut down to facilitate a road-widening scheme and make way for a new Tesco store. He assisted with work to buy Lansdown Hall for the community, to rescue Stroud's maternity hospital and to keep Uplands Post Office open. Mr Marjoram had stepped down from active politics in 2021. He received the title of Stroud town's first Honorary Freeman in recognition of his services to the community in 2023. Adrian Oldman, coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: 'John represented Stroud with integrity, dedication and a genuine desire to promote the wellbeing of people. 'He was inspirational and the ultimate community activist, using the local political process to help people and improve our community. 'He was tenacious, passionate and always supported the underdog. 'He was a man of principle, always had time for others and had a real commitment to help those who were in trouble. 'Our hearts go out to his wife, Laura, and his family.'
