Residents in the London Borough of Waltham Forest are still mourning the passing of its Mayor, Councillor Chris Robbins CBE.
A staunch servant to his community since 2002, as a ward councillor, cabinet member, Leader of the Council and then Mayor, he went about his daily business with immense dignity, grace, and compassion in every way.
Born in Bethnal Green in 1945, he lived in east London for his entire life, serving as ward councillor for Grove Green in Leyton since 2002. A Waltham Forest Labour Councillor for over 18 years, he was a Councillor there since 2002 before becoming Leader, for eight years - from 2009 – 2017.
Supportive of all efforts of humanitarian works – both at home and overseas – as equally and effortlessly, especially in his community, with his unerring work with the interfaith community; he was on the Queen's Birthday Honours – when he received his CBE for public service – in 2017.
Having served as a councillor for 15 years, he became leader of the Labour group in 2009 and led the party to win a majority, which it has not lost since, in the 2010 local election – after eight years of no overall control. He stood down in 2017, when Cllr Clare Coghill took the helm.
She said: “Chris loved the borough and its people. His motto as leader was ‘residents first’. Above everything, he was utterly devoted to his family and my heart goes out to them, and all of his relatives.
“We all lost a great man, a great leader and a great friend.”
A “giant” who led Waltham Forest Council for seven years, he is survived by his wife Shelley, and daughters Emma and Victoria.
He was 76.
