Staffordshire County Council
'No-nonsense Henry was a gentleman...' - Grieving family lead tributes to community leader
The funeral of Henry Butter takes place today
Kerry AshdownLocal Democracy Reporter
Henry Butter at Eccleshall Library
Tributes have been paid to a dedicated community leader who served as a councillor and churchwarden for more than 40 years.
Henry Butter, who lived near Eccleshall, was made an honorary alderman of Stafford borough for 'eminent service to the council' in 2015 – four years after he stood down from the authority.
He served on the former Stone Rural District Council from 1967 to 1973 before joining the newly-created Stafford Borough Council the same year. He was also a member of Staffordshire County Council, serving the Eccleshall community, for many years.
The great-grandfather - who had six children and 14 grandchildren - died peacefully on December 12 at the age of 87. His funeral will be held at St Peter's Church, in Broughton, at midday on Saturday, December 22, where he served as churchwarden for more than 40 years.
This flag was flown at half-mast following the death of Henry Butter
Son James Butter, a current churchwarden at St Peter's, and daughter Sara Humphries, a curate, are leading the service.
Daughter Sally-Ann Shotton said her father was a 'very modest gentleman', who worked as a farmer and championed conservation for many years alongside his council and church duties.
She said: "He loved the area we lived in and had a really good knowledge of it. He was a real community man. He was into conservation well before it became trendy and he was a farmer until he retired. He moved to Fairoak Grange and did a lot of conservation work there. He planted a lot of trees and he loved the countryside.
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"His civic duties were a massive part of his life. He was selfless and he taught it to us. It was never about money or glory – it was about the greater good.
"He was a very good bridge player and he was a dog breeder. And he was so devoted to Broughton Church."
This week Stafford Borough Council flew a flag at half mast from its Riverside offices as a mark of respect to the civic stalwart, who served as chairman and vice-chairman of several committees.
Former Stafford borough mayor Councillor Peter Jones said: "He was a true servant of the community and his wisdom and foresight was missed by both authorities when he retired."
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Current Eccleshall borough and county councillor Jeremy Pert, who also served alongside Mr Butter for many years, said: "Henry was a dedicated community champion who served around 47 years on Stafford councils – Stafford Borough, Staffordshire County and Stone Rural – unbroken until his retirement in 2011 from the borough and in 2013 from the county council.
"He notably chaired the planning committee at the borough council, very adeptly balancing the issue of development with that of ensuring it was balanced with the local need and environment.
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"He mixed his love of the countryside and that of rights of way with his love of rambling and many of the milestones in his county division were there because he personally championed their maintenance and presence.
"All in all Henry was a gentleman – with clear passions and commitments, founded in his commitment to many long-standing community establishments from the council through to the local church. He was a 'no nonsense' man who did not like fuss or ceremony but who's friendship once won lasted a lifetime."
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