Gordon Bridger

From: Guildford Liberal Democrats

In response to: Guildford Mourns Gordon Bridger, the Former Mayor Who Loved His Town

Hon Alderman Gordon Bridger was first elected to Guildford Borough Council among 10 new Lib Dem councillors that year. Although not born in Guildford nor grown up here, he adopted the town as his home and cared passionately not only about his Holy Trinity Ward but about the whole borough.

He worked tirelessly as a councillor between 1991 and his retirement from Millmead in 2007. Even after that, he continued as an activist for the community and didn’t hesitate to comment on issues he considered important.

Gordon worked on several council committees, including chairing the Finance Sub-Committee, appropriate given his background as an economist.

When the council moved over to the cabinet system of local government, Gordon took on the Finance portfolio. One of his achievements was to make sure that, when it came to setting the council budget, he presented it in a way all councillors could understand, which had not always been the case.

Along with his serious and very competent side, Gordon had a mischievous sense of humour. When he became Mayor of Guildford in 2003, his acceptance speech was so witty it had everyone in the Guildhall laughing.

Cllr Fiona White knew Gordon well as a councillor, and values the memories. She said: “Gordon always had very strong views and would argue his case tenaciously but when the debate was over he would put it behind him and move on without hard feelings, even when people didn’t agree with him.”

Guildford has lost a real champion in Gordon. He will be sadly missed by us all but mostly by his wife Jean and the family.