The chairman to invite members and officers of the council and members of the public to join him in observing one minute's silence as a mark of respect for:

Lieutenant Daniel John Clack, First Battalion the Rifles

Lance Corporal Jonathan James McKinlay, First Battalion the Rifles

Councillor Frank Beard

Group leaders and other members will have an opportunity to add to the chairman’s tribute to Councillor Beard.

The chairman invited members and officers of the council and members of the public to join him in observing one minute's silence as a mark of respect to Lieutenant Daniel John Clack and Lance Corporal Jonathan James McKinlay, of First Battalion the Rifles and to Cllr Frank Beard, who sadly passed away on 7 September 2011. Cllr Beard had been a District Councillor for many years, (1974 to 2007), and re-elected again in May 2011. Cllr Beard had also been Chairman of the Council from 2006 to 2007, a Gloucestershire County Councillor, a Cinderford Town Councillor and the first Mayor of Cinderford.

The chairman invited group leaders and other members to pay tribute to Cllr Beard.

Labour Group Leader, Cllr Martin, said that Cllr Beard had been a true forester in every sense of the word in that he believed in the ethos of what a true forester entailed, whether born and bred in the forest or involved in forest life. She described Cllr Beard as a fantastic councillor, a respected friend and a great mentor to both herself and to other labour councillors and colleagues. Often referred to as ‘Mr Cinderford’, she said that Cllr Beard had been a stalwart labour member, whose loss to Cinderford and to the labour branch of the Forest of Dean, would be huge. Cllr Martin also referred to Cllr Beard’s commitment to his partner and to his family, which she described as a testament to his belief in the young people of Cinderford and to their future. 

Speaking as a close personal friend and colleague of Cllr Beard, Cllr Morgan, said that his friendship with Cllr Beard had been a deep and longstanding one. He said that, on first meeting with Cllr Beard, he had been so impressed by his style of being a councillor, that he had tried to emulate all that Cllr Beard represented. Referring to him as a ‘great councillor’ and a ‘champion of young people’, Cllr Morgan said that Cllr Beard was a staunch advocate of listening to local opinion and that his sad loss would leave an empty hollow for the people of Cinderford and to local politics.

Cllr Hogan reflected on the many wonderful times he had spent with Cllr Beard, and said that, although a quiet and unassuming man, he had an inner strength and remarkable spirit that would be hard to replace. Cllr Hogan said that he would miss Cllr Beard’s friendship very much.

Speaking on behalf of the Conservative Group, Cllr Smart said that Cllr Beard had been a supportive and welcoming former Chairman of the Council, when she herself had assumed the role in 2007. Describing Cllr Beard as a devoted councillor and dedicated family man, Cllr Smart applauded Cllr Beard’s contribution to the local community and said that she had great respect for both his work and his commitment to the people of the Forest of Dean. Cllr Horne shared these sentiments and said that Cllr Beard was a quiet and much loved gentleman.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Molyneux, said that, although he had not had an opportunity to work with Cllr Beard for very long, he was conscious of the huge loss to the community his sad death would be.

Chairman of the Council, Cllr Norman Stephens, referred to the high esteem in which he valued his friendship with Cllr Beard. He said that Cllr Beard had been an important and invaluable mentor to Cllr Stephens when he had first become a councillor and that he spoke with a great deal of common sense. Cllr Stephens said that, although Cllr Beard did not say a great deal, what he did say was worth listening to and what a fair-minded, polite and likeable person he was. He concluded by saying how greatly missed Cllr Beard would be by his family, friends, colleagues and to the people of Cinderford.