THE FORMER Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Sucha Singh Bains, has died aged 83, after a long illness.
Coun Singh Bains, who represented Upper Stoke for the Labour Party, served as a councillor continuously since he was first elected in 1990.
He was Lord Mayor of his adopted city from 2003-04, the city’s first ever Asian Lord Mayor.
Apart from a brief two-year absence he represented the people of Upper Stoke for the Labour Party for almost 30 years.
Coun Singh Bains was born in the Punjab in 1935 and after emigrating to England in 1959 he studied at the then Lanchester Polytechnic – now Coventry University – and went on to work for famous city names such as Jaguar and Alvis.
With his wife Darshan, he had three children, who were all educated at Stoke Park School.
He was Chair of the Audit and Procurement Committee and his other appointments included a seat on the Finance and Corporate Services Scrutiny Board.
He also served as a governor for local schools, including Stoke Primary School and Stoke Heath Primary School.
When named as Lord Mayor he said he had wanted to serve the city that provided such a good home for himself and his family and to help address issues of poverty and inequality.
Leader of the Council, Coun George Duggins, said: “Sucha was a good friend and a wonderful councillor who cared very deeply about the people of his ward and of the city.
“He worked tirelessly and he was an example to all councillors. I came to the Council shortly after Sucha and he was always a great friend and great source of advice. He will be greatly missed at the Council and by all those he represented.
“Coventry has today lost a dear friend and our thoughts are with his family.”
Leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Gary Ridley, said: “Sucha loved being a councillor and representing the people of his city and that was clear for all to see.
“He carried out all his duties with enthusiasm and respect and he was always ready to help colleagues – of whichever political persuasion – if it helped the people of the city.”
