Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Councillor Meehan Dies at 72
Haringey Council today published the following press release:
It is with regret that we announce that Former Haringey Council Leader Cllr George Meehan, who served the people of Haringey for more than 40 years, has today passed away aged 71 following a short illness.
Cllr Meehan was first elected as a Labour Party ward councillor in 1971, initially serving until 1986. He was re-elected as a Woodside ward councillor in 1990, where he continued to serve as a councillor until his death today.
Cllr Meehan had lived in Haringey with his wife Mary since moving to London from County Donegal, Ireland in 1963.
He served three separate periods as Leader of the Council, from 1983 to 1985; 1999 to 2004 and from 2006 until 2008. Cllr Meehan was also Deputy Leader of the Council in 1978-79 and 1996-99, and served as a school governor in a number of local schools.
Cllr Meehan believed passionately in delivering quality public services and in involving local people in the decisions that affect their everyday lives.
He was also a strong advocate of the power of education in helping young people to fulfil their potential. It was this commitment to education that saw the state-of-the-art new community school Heartlands High open during Cllr Meehan’s leadership, alongside countless improvements to the borough’s existing secondary schools thanks to his determination to bring significant Building Schools for the Future funding to Haringey.
Cllr Meehan spoke of the honour of being able to serve the local community, both in Woodside and elsewhere in Haringey. He championed the borough’s Irish community and talked often of the pride he felt in Haringey’s rich cultural diversity.
Haringey Council Leader Cllr Claire Kober said: “George was a formidable character who made a lasting impression on all he met.
“Never afraid to speak his mind, to challenge social injustice where he found it and to champion the needs and the rights of Haringey’s communities, George was a man of firm principle and unflinching devotion to public service.
“As leader, his achievements in improving schools in Haringey and driving forward the local BSF programme undoubtedly laid the foundations for the exceptional education that Haringey’s students enjoy today.
“Our thoughts are with Mary, her and George’s children Martin and Michael and all his friends and family at this very difficult time.”
As a mark of respect to Cllr Meehan, a flag will be lowered to half mast at Haringey’s Civic Centre on Wood Green High Road from tomorrow.
Funeral arrangements will be confirmed in due course.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on
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I am very sad to hear George has died. Shortly after I moved to Tottenham he became one of my ward councillors. He fought hard for new housing, and improvements to existing Houston stock. He enjoyed casework and was always accessible.
He was a very decent and principled man who was committed to the Labour Party and socialist values. He was Leader of the Council during some really difficult times, and did his best to defend and support public services.
I was working for the Education Service in 1998/9 when the Blair Government began its programme of Ofsted inspections of local education authorities. Islington was first to be inspected and subsequently privatised. Haringey was not far behind in the Blair queue. George's starting point was what was best for the children and the schools and he insisted that the process imposed on the Council by the government would be fair and transparent.
Hours of meetings, a huge consultation with different stakeholders and finally presentations by the bidders to heads, governors, the MPs, Councillors, teachers, the unions and community groups. As a democrat George supported this open process and chaired the event.
The process revealed many weaknesses, and it is to George's great credit that he led the Council in standing firm to stop the Education Service being privatised. I was working on this project for several months and without doubt it was one of George's finest moments. Although he never told me, I think he must have been proud of standing up to them.
He was a kind and genuine man. He cared deeply about Haringey , public services and the community. I always thought he was old Labour. I am really sorry he has gone.
Zena Brabazon
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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I too am sorry to learn that George Meehan has died. In my first 12 months as a Councillor, I was on a single outside body and that was Homes for Haringey. I remember on that Board, George was always kind, civil and friendly towards a new and opposition Councillor. It seems like only yesterday when I expressed my sadness to him at the passing of his long time friend and colleague, Pat Egan.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Alexander on
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Very sad to hear the news of the passing of George. A man passionate about Haringey who served residents for so many years. My condolences to his family at this difficult time.
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Permalink Reply by Patricia Wotton on
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Very sad to hear of the premature passing of George Meehan. As a long time resident of The borough from its Middlesex days I can remember the emergence of this principled and trusted local politician. George's human and grounded old school labour touch made him accessible and believable in an age when, especially latterly, it was much needed. His humble manner coupled with the determination of a person fighting for the right thing is what made him a local hero not involvement with necessary large scale projects. He was a person unconcerned with glory and attached to his community at a very human level. Whilst desperately sad for his family they must also be so proud of such a lovely man.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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I knew George from the other side of his life when we both worked for Camden Council. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
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Very sad to hear that George is gone. I have no doubt that those here who knew George from within the formal working of the Council have got to the heart of the man: decent, principled, trusted, solid and good Old Labour stock.
I'll remember him, too, for bringing a touch of rural or small town Donegal politics to a London borough, though he'd left home as a 20-year old. His "Anny Questkins?" winding up our small meetings back in the 1980s can still raise a smile. The 1970s/early 1980s, with their spillover of Ireland's British problems (you can rephrase that!) to London often meant that Irish kept their heads down here even in the most unthreatening of workplaces and environments. It was good to have a man like George on the local scene. His support for schools, even out-of-Borough schools, but particularly for the development of Haringey's Irish Cultural & Community Centre over on Pretoria Road, N17 during Bernie Grant's and his own leadership and after was invaluable.
Slán agus beannacht, a Sheoirse. But why does anyone have to die at 71? (Well I would say that, wouldn't I?)
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Ah so George was just six weeks older than me! Maybe I can relax a little till 28 August?
Eddie F.
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Permalink Reply by HoL Site Admin on
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The Council have just told me "very sadly, we’ve just found out that it was actually Cllr Meehan’s birthday yesterday, so he was 72 (not 71 as we originally said)." The title of this thread has been changed accordingly.
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