Ray Hassall

Raymond Geoffrey Hassall (1943 – 12 March 2017), known as Ray, was a British politician

Ray Hassall
106th Lord Mayor of Birmingham
In office
May 2015 – May 2016
Preceded byShafique Shah
Succeeded byCarl Rice
Member of Birmingham City Council for Perry Barr
In office
3 May 1990 – 12 March 2017
Succeeded byMorriam Jan
Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham
In office
May 2016 – 12 March 2017
Preceded byShafique Shah
Succeeded byPaul Tilsley
Personal details
Born
Raymond Geoffrey Hassall

1943
West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England
Died12 March 2017(2017-03-12) (aged 74)
Erdington, Birmingham, England
Political partyLiberal Democrats

Hassall served in local government in Birmingham, England representing Perry Barr ward for the Liberal Democrats party, and being Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture from 2006 to 2009, and as Lord Mayor of the city in the year May 2015 to May 2016.[1]

Early life

Hassall was born at Hallam Hospital in West Bromwich[2] in 1943, before his family moved to nearby Great Barr.[3] In 1957, they moved to Canada. He returned three years later and joined the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals,[3][4] from which he was demobbed in 1966.[2] He subsequently worked for the GPO, latterly BT, from where he retired in 1991.[2]

Political career

He was first elected to Perry Barr ward on 3 May 1990.[5] He was also a trustee of Birmingham Civic Society until 2016,[6] serving as its President during his term of office as Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

Notably, Hassall served as Lord Mayor of the city of Birmingham in the year May 2015 to May 2016.[1]

Death

He died unexpectedly, on 12 March 2017, age 74, at his home in the city's Erdington district, while serving as Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham.[5] He was divorced, and his son predeceased him aged 40.[3][4]

His funeral was held on 12 May 2017, at St Peter and St Paul, Aston, followed by a memorial event and wake at Alexander Stadium.[7] A separate civic memorial service was held at Birmingham Cathedral on 15 May.[7]

References
  1. Elkes, Neil (12 March 2017). "Ex-Lord Mayor Ray Hassall dies suddenly aged 74". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  2. "Lord Mayor of Birmingham - Councillor Raymond Hassall". Birmingham City Council. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  3. Dale, Paul. "Lord Mayor Ray Hassall – the proud Brummie from West Brom". The Chamberlain Files. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. Elkes, Neil (17 May 2015). "Next Birmingham Lord Mayor backs cancer charity following double tragedy". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  5. Harrison, Debbie (13 March 2017). "Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Raymond Hassall". Birmingham News Room. Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. "Councillor Ray Hassall - Birmingham Civic Society". Birmingham Civic Society. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  7. "Funeral arrangements for the late Cllr Ray Hassall". Focus on Perry Barr, Great Barr & Witton. April 2017.
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