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Councillor loved robust debate - but never made it personal
NEVER PERSONAL ... Coun Jim Capstick when he was recovering from a heart attack.
During his 44 years service in the borough, Coun Jim Capstick represented West Park, Cleadon Park and Harton.
He first contested a seat for Progressives on the former South Shields County Borough Council in 1966 in Simonside, but was defeated by Albert Elliott, who went on to become leader of the authority.
Defeat did not deter him, and in 1967 he was elected for the Cleadon Park ward.
His election helped pave the way for Labour losing control of the council in 1969, when he was appointed vice-chairman of the housing committee.
Working alongside the chairman, George Smith, he pioneered the sale of council housing in the town – in the teeth of opposition from the Labour Party.
He oversaw the modernisation of more than 600 council properties, as well as the sale of council land for private housing development, with the sale of Holder House in South Shields being particularly contentious.
In the council chamber during those years, he faced Labour’s shadow housing spokesman, Coun Billy Malcolm, who told his son – present council leader Iain Malcolm –- he was “robust and challenging, but never personal, vindicate or spiteful” .
After local government re-organisation in 1973, Coun Capstick was re-elected to represent Cleadon Park, and remained there until 1982, when he moved to the West Park ward.
By the early 1980s, he had emerged as the dominate political figure in the Progressive Association and became its leader.
However, the unpopularity of the Thatcher Government saw a Labour local government landslide in 1990, and Coun Capstick, for the first time, lost his seat in West Park.
Defeat was short-lived though, and he returned in 1991 and continued to represent West Park until 2004 when he chose, following a ward boundary review, to contest the Harton ward.
Later, he was a driving force behind the formation of the Independent Alliance, before the Progressives left that political grouping.
When he was presented with his freemanship in November last year, Labour’s Coun Eddie McAtominey recalled Coun Capstick’s heyday in the late 1970s, when the council chamber was evenly divided between Labour and Progressive representatives.
He said: “The standard of debate at that time was outstanding, and Jim played a major role in opposition, alongside the likes of Ken Hickman and Harry Marshall.”
Real Independent George Elsom added: “Jim is first and foremost a gentleman. He has never once abused a council officer or any member of this chamber. He’s a number one gentleman.”
Closing the motion, Coun Capstick said: “Thank you all for this. This is a proud moment, and one I shall cherish.”
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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