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His local government service spanned the periods from 1973 to 1979;
from 1992 to 1994 and from 1995 until his death. He was Mayor of
Peterborough in 1978/79, during which time he welcomed a group of
Vietnamese Boat People to new lives in Peterborough, helping collect
them from a refugee centre in London. In recent years he lived in
Werrington and represented Walton and, since 1995, the Northborough
ward.
Following Peterborough’s designation
as a unitary authority in 1998 he became deputy leader of the city
council and was leader from July 2003.
In addition to his role as Leader of
Peterborough City Council, he was vice-chairman of Cambridgeshire
and Peterborough Fire Authority, a Board member of Opportunity
Peterborough (the city’s urban regeneration company) and of the
Greater Peterborough Partnership (Peterborough’s local strategic
partnership), a member of the East of England Regional Assembly and
a member of the North Level Drainage Board for Thorney.
In the first of many tributes, the
Mayor of Peterborough Councillor David Thorpe said: “Councillor
Franklin made an incalculable contribution to the welfare of every
resident of Peterborough. His death is a sad loss to the city and I
want to extend our deep condolences to his family and many friends.”
Deputy Council Leader, Councillor
John Peach, added: “Councillor Franklin had a powerful belief in
Peterborough that was matched by an amazing energy in promoting its
interests. He had considerable vision about how Peterborough could
achieve its potential as a major regional centre. Existing residents
and future generations owe him a great debt of gratitude.”
Peterborough City Council chief
executive Gillian Beasley said: “Councillor Franklin’s sudden death
is a great loss, both for the city and, personally, for many
individuals who knew him and worked with him. He was courageous and
tireless in promoting Peterborough’s interests, while always
displaying pride in the city and a caring nature for people.”
Born and bred in Peterborough,
Councillor Franklin attended Lincoln Road and Deacon’s schools and
lived in the area all his life apart from his naval service and his
time at university. He began his local government service as a
parish councillor in Thorney, subsequently becoming chairman of the
Peterborough Rural District Council and the first member to
represent Thorney on the Huntingdon and Peterborough County Council
when it was formed in 1965.
He also served on the enlarged
Cambridgeshire County Council and was chairman of the Fire Service
when, under local government boundary changes, Cambridgeshire
incorporated Huntingdon and Peterborough and the Isle of Ely in
1974.
Councillor Franklin joined the Royal
Navy in 1942 and served on both the North Atlantic convoys and with
the American 6th fleet in the Pacific. He sailed around the world
twice and, after leaving the service, he maintained his interest and
commitment to the Royal Navy as life vice-president of the Royal
Naval Association, Peterborough District, and chairman of
Peterborough Sea Cadets.
After leaving the Royal Navy in
1946, he joined a wholesale potato produce merchant and gained a
Diploma in Industrial Administration (Birmingham). He subsequently
set up his own company in the same industry, which he ran for more
than 20 years.
A passionate historian, Councillor
Franklin was trustee of Peterborough Custom House and chairman of a
burns unit appeal fund, which is raising money towards establishing
a plastic surgery department at the new Edith Cavell Hospital. He
was also a member of the East Coast Main Line Consulting Group, the
City Centre Forum Board, Maxey Quarry Local Liaison Committee and
Northborough Community Association.
His hobbies included water and snow
skiing, and playing golf. He also held a private pilot’s licence for
light aircraft.
A book of condolence will be opened
outside the Mayor’s Parlour in Peterborough Town Hall today.
April 2006
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