Paying tribute to ‘Mr Sunderland’
FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT EVENT TO REMEMBER FORMER CIVIC LEADER WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR
Family and friends of a former civic leader who passed away earlier this came together to remember his eventful life.
Charles Slater died in February aged 88, just six months after the death of his beloved wife Sonia.
Known as Mr Sunderland, he served as a leader of Sunderland City Council, as Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear and as mayor of the city – in addition to working as a solicitor until his late 60s.
Mr Slater, son of Simmons furniture store manager Sidney Slater and his wife Sarah, was born in Gateshead at the start of the Great Depression and to Sunderland in 1940. At 14, he enrolled in Hebrew classes at Ryhope Road Synagogue, where he met Sonia Clark and they were married for 59 years before Sonia’s death.
At Sunderland Civic Centre, a remembrance event was held in tribute to Mr Slater.
Organisers included former mayor and councillor Les Scott, who said: “We’ve had a great turnout which we didn’t really expect.
“It’s been a fitting event to a nice person who really devoted his life to the city.
“He earned the title of “Mr Sunderland” without any question.
“I think I was correct in saying that, possibly, he is the most influential politician in Sunderland’s 20th Century history.”
After being elected as a Labour councillor in 1958, Mr Slater successfully challenged his uncle, Sir Jack Co- hen, for the post of opposition leader in the late 1960s – eventually taking his party to victory and becoming leader of the council.
His time at the forefront of local politics saw him welcome the abolition of the 11-plus, as well as spearhead-