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Farewell to 'colourful character'
THIS election marks the departure from St Albans District Council of one of its most colourful members, independent councillor John Newman.
During his council career, Councillor Newman, originally a left wing Tory, developed a reputation for straight talking, acerbic wit and invective as well phrased as it was contemptuous.
In charge of leisure in the power-sharing cabinet which fell in 2004, as Tory leader he bitterly attacked the Lib Dems' handling of the city centre cinema project they had inherited from him.
Many of his criticisms appear vindicated by events - the original cinema operator pulled out, two planning applications have collapsed, and it remains unclear whether the competing interests of heritage campaigners and film lovers can ever be reconciled.
But before long he fell out with his own party, and, ousted as leader, left to sit as an independent.
Political strife was transferred from the council chamber to the court room when Councillor Newman, banned from driving, was caught driving home by his nemesis, Lib Dem Melvyn Teare, after attending a cabinet meeting.
Councillor Newman, who insists he merely drove out of the Civic Centre car park before his wife took the wheel, was then charged with intimidating a witness, a CCTV operator.
Hopes of a sensational trial were dashed when this very serious charge was dropped, and the former Tory leader admitted driving while banned, receiving a substantial fine and costs.
Councillor Newman, despite being in his 70s, gave up squash only recently, and is a keen cyclist.
He now lives in Dorset with his wife and teenage daughter.
3:26pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Vanessa, St Albans on 4:24pm Tue 6 May 08
For sure he will love this piece of publicity. He certainly gave value for money at Full Council for entertainment reasons alone. Not sure he always engaged brain before speaking, however local characters are on the decline and that is very sad indeed.
For sure he will love this piece of publicity. He certainly gave value for money at Full Council for entertainment reasons alone. Not sure he always engaged brain before speaking, however local characters are on the decline and that is very sad indeed.
Posted by: Bob, St Albans on 4:27pm Tue 6 May 08
"Hopes of a sensational trial..." Whose hopes? Yours, for a titillating trial to report, or the johnnycomelately Lib/Dem lickspittle who sneaked on him?
You write about 'Alf' Newman as if he was loveable or even loved by the loyal sherry drinkers who misguidedly put a cross in his box. Maybe they never actually met him?
Good value for Shakespearean-style knockabout banter and the unforgiving insult, his forte was an ability to disguise his right-of-centre politics.
"Originally a left-wing Tory"? Maybe when he was a radical free-thinking 19 year old, certainly not during his time as a St Albans councillor. His contribution to aesthetics was to endorse a 20+ storey skyscraper development in the City Centre with a withering put-down of the history and architectural importance of the Cathedral.
Ex-councillor Newman, resident of Bridport on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset, since 2006, has not been greatly missed.
"Hopes of a sensational trial..." Whose hopes? Yours, for a titillating trial to report, or the johnnycomelately Lib/Dem lickspittle who sneaked on him?
You write about 'Alf' Newman as if he was loveable or even loved by the loyal sherry drinkers who misguidedly put a cross in his box. Maybe they never actually met him?
Good value for Shakespearean-style knockabout banter and the unforgiving insult, his forte was an ability to disguise his right-of-centre politics.
"Originally a left-wing Tory"? Maybe when he was a radical free-thinking 19 year old, certainly not during his time as a St Albans councillor. His contribution to aesthetics was to endorse a 20+ storey skyscraper development in the City Centre with a withering put-down of the history and architectural importance of the Cathedral.
Ex-councillor Newman, resident of Bridport on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset, since 2006, has not been greatly missed.
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