Posthumous honour for Horsham’s Leonard

Leonard Crosbie, pictured in 2012, passed away in September

Lib Dem Leonard Crosbie, who represented Trafalgar for 25 years, was made an honorary alderman in early December, three months after his death.

Councillors from across the chamber paid tribute to Leonard’s tireless work both at HDC and in the community.

Frances Haigh, leader of the Lib Dem group at HDC, said his values and priorities stemmed from being an Irishman as family came first before everything else.

This was followed by church and his faith as well as his love for Guinness.

He also had a gift for words, was skilled at dissecting documents and would hear all sides before forming wise judgements.

He volunteered at the night shelter and as chair of the council’s scrutiny committee was ‘scrupulously fair ensuring all voices were heard’.

Frances added: “He demonstrated a masterclass to councillors from all parties on how politics could operate.”

Tricia Youtan, who proposed making Leonard an alderman, described how he had been born in Dublin before moving to Manchester with his parents aged 13.

After a degree from the London School of Economics he spent the majority of his career in aviation working for a time in both Liberia and Kenya.

When he moved back to the UK he taught English as a foreign language as well as lecturing on aviation at both Worthing and Crawley colleges and Westminster University.

After being elected in 1995, he served as chairman of the council’s finance and performance committee and helped start up the district’s first wheelie bin collection service.

He also served as a governor at Forest School, was the first chairman of the Horsham and Chanctonbury Primary Care Trust and had a role in the setting up of housing association Saxon Weald.

He was also HDC’s chairman from 2012-2013.

Christine Costin, Leonard’s ‘partner in crime’ representing Trafalgar, said: “He was always full of fun and I count myself so fortunate to be able to work with him and I do miss him.”

Philip Circus added: “It’s a great shame Leonard is not here to receive the honour, but it’s a great honour and justly deserved.”

David Skipp said: “I’m sure he would have appreciated the honour bestowed on him, maybe with a smile and certainly a wry comment and I think this is a posthumous honour well earned.”