5th January 2024
Russell Hawker writes:
I am sad to confirm that Warminster Town Councillor John Syme passed away on Wednesday in his flat. His next of kin, which in law is his wife (though they separated some years ago) who lives in Mere and his sister have now been informed. I now feel able to comment in public on this sad news.
I have been spending a lot of time with John over the last few months since I moved into Warminster and especially because he and I called for a by-election for the recent vacancy on the town council. With help from John, I was recently elected (albeit in a “no contest” election because I was the only valid candidate who came forward) to the council as an Independent.
John and I had plans to work closely together in the Broadway ward on the town council to help local residents and to try to sort local issues. Unfortunately, I will have to press ahead without the benefit of John’s vast local knowledge and network of contacts.
I feel lucky to have spent valuable time with John over the last few months discussing local issues.
John and I first met when we were both on West Wiltshire District Council (now merged into Wiltshire Council) back in 2003. I was a district councillor in Westbury. Later we ran against each other for the County Council seat in Warminster West in 2005. He beat me by 4 votes. He has never let me forget that he beat me. I was inspired by his very subtle approach to his election campaign as an Independent, and only a few months later I left the party I was in and have been Independent myself ever since.
Warminster Journal will be running an article about John next week.
