One of South Tyneside’s longest-serving councillors has announced his intention to step down at the May elections.
Councillor Bill Brady has served the Whiteleas ward in South Shields for three decades and has been both a cabinet member and mayor of South Tyneside in the past.
Although the 87-year-old said he could carry on, he believes the time is right to retire and let a new Labour candidate take on the challenge.
Bill hopes his successor will carry on his local priorities to expand access to “essential” defibrillators, to help the vulnerable and to lobby for the redevelopment of some “outdated” council housing in the area.
Cllr Brady comes from a political family with his father being a councillor for the Horsley Hill ward and two of his brothers going on to become councillors in other local authorities.
After serving as a miner at Whitburn Colliery until its closure, Bill worked in labouring and factory jobs before retraining and gaining employment with the council servicing and repairing gas appliances.
Throughout his career, Bill served on several local and national committees representing plumbers and electricians.
According to Bill, the Labour values instilled during his childhood helped him learn the “principle of equality and treating people right”.
“There is a much larger difference now between the rich and poor and you have more and more working people because of this situation having to go to food banks,” he said.
“We’re trying to help them through our Community Area Forum funding but you have children now who are not eating properly and families choosing between heating and eating”.
Looking back over the Covid-19 pandemic and ahead to future challenges the borough is facing, including the rising cost of living, Bill praised the “community spirit” and support South Tyneside residents continue to show towards each other.
Bill’s highlights as a councillor included meeting the Queen on one of her visits to South Tyneside and working in the ward with his late wife Mavis, who was also a Whiteleas councillor and former mayor of South Tyneside.
After witnessing the decline of heavy industry across the North East, Bill also believes council regeneration schemes, such as housing development at the former Holborn docklands, will change South Shields for the better.
While Bill will no longer be a councillor after the May elections, he said he will continue to support residents and the local Labour Party.
Cllr Brady added: “What I have learned over the years of being a councillor, is to be honest with yourself.
“When you talk about the younger generation, we should encourage them to be involved, there are a lot of good things about being involved with local politics.
“I have served under four different council leaders and they all have left their mark on the council.
“I would like to say I have been on thirty years and have enjoyed being a councillor and part of the Labour Group and will continue to be involved.
“I would commend Labour candidate Ken Dawes who is looking to take my place and wish him well in the May elections.”
