Tribute to former Lord Mayor of York Derek Smallwood, 82

Derek Smallwood passed away peacefully at his home in Market Weighton on Monday (September 4), aged 82.

Derek was born in Salford in 1940 and moved to York in 1964 after meeting his York “girl” and his wife Marion, to whom he was married for 38 years.

Derek was elected as a North Yorkshire District Councilor in 1985 and as a York City Councilor in 1990. He then became a councilor for York City Council when that authority was created in 1996.

He was Lord Mayor of York from 1998 to 1999 – and his son Chris Smallwood said he considered the revival and revival of Christmas lights in the city to be one of his most notable achievements.

During his time as Lord Mayor, Derek opens a new Year 6 classroom at Badger Hill Primary School (Image: Newsquest)

Derek became a volunteer councilor after retiring for health reasons in 2007. After losing his wife Marion in 1999, Derek remarried Gwen in 2003.

In his early years in the city, Derek was the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) branch secretary of the York West Yorkshire Bus Company.

In his later years, Derek was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spent the last years of his life with Gwen in Market Weighton.

He is survived by Gwen, children Debbie, David, Chris and Jennie, stepchildren Jonathan and Danny, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place at York Crematorium on Thursday September 21st at 12.20pm.

York City Council has announced that the flag over the Mansion House will fly at half-mast on the day of Derek’s funeral as a mark of respect.

Derek was mayor when the Mansion House was last closed for renovations in 1998 (Image: Newsquest)

Derek was mayor when the Mansion House was last closed for renovations in 1998 – and he took it all in stride.

While the Mansion House was being renovated, its official residence was a two-family house on Upper Newborough Street, a narrow terraced street behind the then York City football ground, off Burton Stone Lane.

He told The Press at the time: “I don’t know yet what the arrangements would be if we had royals come to York. I have no idea if I can use part of the Mansion House for entertaining.”

“I can’t necessarily invite them home because there isn’t enough room in the lounge for all the bodyguards.”