News MBC Tribute to former Mayor of Maidstone - Paul Oldham
The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Gordon Newton, would like to express his deep sadness on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council at the extremely sad news that former Councillor and Mayor of Maidstone, Mr Paul Oldham has passed away and is extending deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to his friends and family at this time.
Paul Oldham passed away aged 79 after a battle with cancer. He was elected to MBC to represent the Ward of Barming, later known as Barming and Teston, for the Conservatives in 1984. He continued to serve the Council for 24 years until 2008 and was the Mayor of Maidstone from 1993 to 1994.
After his parents death in 1995, Paul established the William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust to carry out work in their memory. One of the Trust’s most recent donations was the gift of £100,000 for a new Archaeological Gallery at Maidstone Museum.
Cllr Newton has said:
Paul will be remembered as a fantastic ambassador to Maidstone in his work as a Councillor and Mayor. He had a wealth of knowledge about Maidstone which he shared far and wide and will be truly missed.
Cllr David Burton, Leader of the Council and Conservative Party has paid tribute to Paul saying:
Paul was a legend in his own time. Although I never had the privilege to serve alongside him on the Council on the occasions that we met he was an inspirational individual who willingly shared his incredibly detailed knowledge of Maidstone. It spanned from recent decades and the Council's custodianship of the Archbishop’s Palace to detailed arachnological insight of the history long buried beneath the streets of Maidstone.He liked to do things properly and was famous for avoiding entry into the digital world, preferring to take the time to rewrite a letter that he would hand deliver or send by post.
A true gentleman who will be missed by many. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
A minute’s silence will be held at the next Maidstone Borough Council Meeting in respect of Paul’s contribution to the borough in particular remembering the work he carried out during his time as Councillor for the Ward of Barming.