Councillor Sir William Lawrence Bt OBE

It is with deep regret that Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been informed of the sad passing of its longest serving member, Councillor Sir William Lawrence, yesterday Tuesday 10 February aged 60.

Councillor Sir William Lawrence had represented the ward of Aston Cantlow for almost 33 years since first being elected in 1982 at the age of 27.

He was Chairman of the Council twice in 1990 and 2010 - the only Councillor to be Chairman twice - and during his time on the Council was Chairman of the Environmental Health Committee, Planning (West) and more recently a member of the Cabinet as Environmental Services Portfolio Holder.

Sir William lived in south Warwickshire all his life and was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Despite falling victim to polio at the age of three and confined to a wheelchair he was extremely active in business, local government and tourism throughout his adult life, holding many influential, national roles.  He also had a keen interest in the arts, health, education, facilities for the disabled and charities. Among many roles, Sir William was President of the Stratford-upon-Avon Chamber Music Society.

He became the fifth baronet on the death of his father – also Sir William – in 1986 and was made an OBE in 2003 for services to the tourism industry.

In February 2005 he married Tamara Bubashvili from Tbilisi, Georgia.

The Council expresses its sincere condolences to Tamara and all of Sir William's family and friends.