Obituary of Colin Riley

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Colin Riley. He represented Crowborough Beacon on ESCC from 1993. Susan Stokes was also elected to represent Crowborough Rothersfield.  This was an amazing result as Crowborough was a very conservative area. Also in that cohort were Steve Murphy, Kathy Field, David Hall, Roy Martin and Mike Skinner. Colin worked diligently for the people of Crowborough ensuring the delivery of a new Whitehill School, once the Montargis Estate had been built, and I understand divesting the ESCC pension fund from investing in the arms trade.

Unfortunately neither Colin nor Sue were able to retain their seats and Crowborough reverted to the Conservatives. 

I only knew Colin after this when he invited me to discuss the fact that the local conservatives were opposing the all weather pitch at Beacon Sports College. I went along to discuss this with him and found myself in an interview! He was my agent when I won a seat on Crowborough Town Council and Wealden DC. After that Colin appears to have “retired.”  I think spending more time in France!

I would occasionally see him and his wife Valerie at our social events and over the years pop in for a cuppa.

Colin and Valerie continued to always allow us to put up a poster board on their very prominent site on the A26.

Colin was a dedicated Liberal Democrat. Our values forming the core of his beliefs. 

Colin achieved much outside of his political work. He was a chorister at Rochester Cathedral and enjoyed singing all his life. He rose through the ranks of HSBC to become the UK Divisional Manager, International Corporate Affairs and after taking early retirement continued to mentor new and smaller businesses. He was extremely active in his local church now called Croft Road, United Reform Church.

Our thoughts are with his wife Valerie and their children and grandchildren and his many friends at this sad time.

- by Jane Clark on behalf of the Crowborough Libdems