We profile some of the leaders of Tameside Council over the past 50 years.

Councillor Colin Grantham OBE

Born and bred in Gee Cross and educated at Hyde Grammar School Colin Grantham was first elected to Hyde Borough Council in 1967 until 1974 when Tameside was formed.  He was also Chairman for the Steering Committee for Tameside 1971-1972.  A Conservative Councillor for Werneth he believed that the council was not a business but a service that should be managed in house to deliver for the people. He was respected for his integrity and what he said he did, his word was always his bond.

He became leader of Tameside Council in 1976 when the Conservative party took control from Labour led Tameside – he led the council for 3 years. During that time, he was Leader to oversee the building of the Tameside Administration Centre which became the council’s hub in Tameside for all the areas. The decision to house a retail outlet beneath was made early to offset costs to the council for the build.

Councillor Grantham won a High Court battle to stop Grammar Schools being turned into comprehensives. Whilst in the Leader role he set up the Queen Elizabeth Trust at Tameside College to help children who were less fortunate than others to buy books and things to help them study. Following his time as Leader in 1979 he put himself forward as a candidate for the European Elections.

He was working as business broker, specializing in post offices, from a premise based on Croft Street in Hyde. When the Conservative group had lost all its councillors by 1996 Colin was asked by the Stalybridge Conservative Association to be the candidate for Stalybridge South. His success at those 1998 elections contributed to the rebuilding of local Conservatives in the borough.  He was a mentor to the current Conservative Group Leader in Tameside, Councillor Doreen Dickinson. She recalls him saying: “Listen to other sides Doreen and don’t close your mind. Don’t ever get to the stage where they offend you. I might not like what you say but defend to the death your right to say it.” Colin was a gentleman at all times she added.

Apart from a break between 1988-98 to concentrate on his career, he remained as a councillor for Stalybridge South until 2007 when he stepped down due to ill health.

He received an OBE in 1981 for his services to communities and his fight to retain Grammar Schools. Colin Grantham passed away in September 2010, he was in politics for over 60 years.

Our thanks to Councillor Doreen Dickinson for her kind assistance with this month’s feature.

Group Image – Colin Grantham Conservative Group Leader with Cllr John Bell Deputy Leader, Cllr Derek Baines and Councillor Doreen Dickinson in Colin’s office at the Council just after the 2000 election