Ron Whittaker: a man who gave his all for Bournemouth

That was the philosophy of Ron Whittaker, the man whose 44 years’ service on Bournemouth council often threatened to give politicians a good name.

When Ron died recently, aged 71, the sincere tributes came from party politicians and fellow independents alike.

His unstinting work for the residents of his patch, and his unerring knack for making news, saw him feature in the Echo more often than just about any other councillor.

Born in Boscombe, Ron often struggled at St Clement’s Primary School and West Howe Secondary, which later became Oakmead.

But on leaving school, he felt privileged to work on steam engines in their last years locally, first as a cleaner boy and then a footplate firemen.

He would recall cooking breakfasts of eggs, bacon and sausages on a shovel over the engine’s fire.

He remained interested in railways for the rest of his days, campaigning to reopen the Swanage to Wareham rail link and against the threatened demolition of Bournemouth station.

He often said it was mistake to tear up the railway lines that linked Bournemouth with Ringwood and East Dorset.

“Once you get a craving for steam, you are a steam fan all your life,” he told the Echo once.

“I worked with some fantastic men and was very lucky to serve in the capacity of fireman. So many youngsters wanted to serve on the railways. At least I have got the memories and photos of those happy days.”

In fact, Ron’s involvement with politics began on the railways, thanks to former councillor George Spicer, who was station foreman at Bournemouth West, and Alderman Arthur Ingledon, when he was one of the staff at Bournemouth Motive Power Plant.

Ron first stood for election as a Labour candidate in Redhill Park 1966 – and it was one of his few experiences of losing at the polls.

He had become an emergency ambulance driver by the time he took the Moordown North ward on Bournemouth council for Labour in 1971.

But party politics did not suit him. He was expelled from the party after refusing to leave two non-political groups.

Now an independent, he managed to hold the Moordown North seat – which later became Throop and Muscliff – at subsequent elections, increasing his personal vote time after time.

He built his big personal following by campaigning hard on residents’ concerns. He campaigned to open Muscliff’s two schools, and part of Epiphany School is named after him.

Ron, who said he had dyslexia which had not been recognised at school, ironically became one of the council’s big letter-writers. He kept residents in touch with countless newsletters and could lay his hands on just about any council report from the past four decades.

In 1991, he claimed the borough engineer had told him to use the phone more, because his letters about problems with roads and pavements were rapidly eating up the department’s budget for dealing with enquiries.

Ron became mayor in 1993, aged 49. He was still single and was dubbed by the Echo “Bournemouth’s most eligible bachelor”.

The Daily Star reported at the time that Ron intended to name his dog Tigs as mayoress. But Ron insisted that he had been misunderstood.

Despite a local campaign to “Vote Tigs for Bournemouth mayoress”, the collie’s role was limited to appearing in the mayoral portrait. After being invited onto breakfast TV by Anne Diamond, Ron said: “It’s good publicity for the town but this must not get out of hand.”

Tigs did accompany Ron on engagements when appropriate and was later given a medal by the next mayor, John Millward.

But Ron announced that the role of mayoress and escort was to be rotated among colleagues and friends, unless “the right girl comes along”.

“I have let the right girl go on a number of occasions in the past,” he said.

“My love life has not been that successful as I have tended to put my council career, and work as an ambulance man, first. And now I’m stuck in my ways and would find it difficult to change.”

But the right girl did come along, and on Valentine’s Day 1994, he revealed to the town his new love, Jackie, described in the Echo as the “36-year-old stunning blonde who danced the night away in his arms”. They remained together for the rest of his days and were married last year.

For the rest of his time on Bournemouth council, Ron remained a formidable campaigner – whether he was opposing the demolition of the Winter Gardens, lobbying for a new ice rink or demanding action on the state of Throop Mill.

Although he had long talked about stepping down from the council, few colleagues thought he would. However, he finally retired at May’s elections.

He was suffering from the blood disorder Myelodysplastic syndrome and died in hospital, the same day he was presented with the freedom of Bournemouth.

His funeral will be a civic occasion on Tuesday, September 29, 11am, at St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth town centre. Like so much of Ron’s life, it will take place in front of the cameras.