In his latest regular column, the Chairman of Maldon District Council, Councillor Mark Heard, discusses the life and work of Councillor Brian Beale MBE.

One of the longest serving members of Maldon District Council (almost 35 years!) is Councillor Brian Beale who has represented the residents of Southminster as an Independent councillor since 1987. He is a highly principled, modest and polite man and someone whom I have always highly respected and often turned to for sound advice.

Born in Southminster in 1941, Brian left school at 15 starting work as a clerk for British Rail at Southminster Railway Station. His main career was spent at Bradwell Power Station where he worked from 1960 until he retired in 1991.

He was a passionate and active sportsman in his youth working over several years as a ski instructor in Austria and he has also played football and competitive hockey for the Maldon district.

He has continued to promote and support local sporting activities and was chairman and president of the marsh marathon sports committee, which at one time boasted 1000 competitors running 26 miles around the Dengie.

Part of his sporting legacy continues today as Southminster Tennis Club members play for the 'Brian Beale Trophy', which he donated over 50 years ago and personally presents to the winners.

He was recognised as a community champion by HM The Queen in the 2012 New Year's Honours list when he was awarded an MBE for services to local government in Essex (Maldon).

Brian was Leader of the Opposition when I joined the council in 2010 and the first person to approach me offering an opportunity to join an Independent Group, promising I would retain my independence and have a free vote on any council matters.

Being a man of his word he has never tried to influence me to vote a certain way and when Independent Councillor Mike Wood left the group, I became deputy leader of the Opposition and was very happy to deputise for him.

Brian is currently appointed to a number of committees including the district planning committee and the south eastern area planning committee. He serves on the overview and scrutiny committee and also when it meets as the crime and disorder committee. He is also on the licensing committee and licensing sub-committee.

Following the May 2019 elections, when many more Independent councillors were elected, Brian recognised that things move on and he suggested to me that we switch roles and I become opposition leader and he would be the deputy which was supported by the new members.

By November 2020, the administration of the council changed and the Independents became the larger group and Councillor Wendy Stamp took over the role as leader.

The Maldon district owes a great deal to Brian who has seen it all before and still has much to offer and I am proud to call him my friend. I hope you enjoyed reading about him.

Take care.

Councillor Mark S. Heard