By Elise Britten

POPULAR community stalwart Desmond Harper, who was the first ever chairman of Stroud District Council, will be remembered fondly when his funeral takes place tomorrow (Wednesday, April 26).

Mr Harper, who died peacefully aged 87 on April 1, will be honoured as mourners gather from 11am at the Church of The Immaculate Conception, before his burial at Stroud Cemetery.

Mr Harper was a councillor for 25 years and was elected as the first chairman of the newly-formed SDC in 1974, and held the position for three years.

His daughter, Elisha Burcombe, recalls how passionate he was about the area.

“Dad was born and bred in Stroud, as they say,” Elisha said. “He always wanted to give back to the town.”

Mr Harper was particularly proud of being a key part of building Stroud Leisure Centre. His contribution was recognised when he was given the honour of opening the facility and a plaque bearing his name.

“Stroud didn’t have anything like that back in the day,” Elisha explained. “It is still standing, so it’s a legacy really.”

Alongside his work as a councillor, Mr Harper also had an outstanding career. He served in the Medical Corps, then set up his own private chiropody practice in Stroud, before going back into the NHS as a senior chiropodist for the next 24 years.

He was promoted to the head of the Chiropody Service in Gloucestershire and was the first chairman of the Gloucestershire Community Health Council.

Mr Harper was always looking for new ways to contribute to his community. He helped set up a pop-in centre in Stroud as a place for the elderly to have a chat over tea and, when its funding was lost, he started a friendship circle at his church, which is still running today.

After his retirement in 1995, he took up computer studies at Stroud College and used the skills he learnt to help at the parish office for the church.

Mr Harper’s private life was as full as his public one. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Grace, his daughter Elisha and son Philip, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“He really loved his family, he was a fantastic husband and a great dad,” Elisha said. “We will always have very happy memories of Christmases with dad surrounded by all his grandchildren.”