Tributes to ex- mayor and ‘ true gentleman’

TRIBUTES HAVE poured in for a much- loved former mayor of a North Yorkshire town who has died aged 73.

Coun Dennis Teasdale served as mayor of Redcar and Cleveland in 2018 and 2019 – and was twice the mayor of Guisborough. The Conservative member’s death this week prompted condolences from across the political divide.

Billy Wells, the mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, shared his sadness at Coun Teasdale’s passing, hailing him as a dedicated servant of local government.

“He was a passionate advocate for the people who elected him and campaigned tirelessly to make a real difference in his community,” he said. “He will also be remembered as a friend and colleague by everyone at both Guisborough Town Council and Redcar and Cleveland Council.”

The grandfather- of- five was one of the key forces behind efforts to secure funding to restore Grade II- listed Guisborough Town Hall and played a senior role on council committees.

He was also a well- known figure in non- league football and cricketing circles for many years.

Coun Philip Thomson, leader of the Conservative group, paid tribute to a “firm friend and colleague”.

Coun Teasdale was born in Middlesbrough in 1947 and moved to Guisborough in 1959.

He attended Guisborough County Modern School, now Laurence Jackson, where he was a prefect and deputy head boy.

He went on to become a senior officer at the former Langbaurgh Borough Council before retiring from local government in 2002.

Politics beckoned when he was elected to Guisborough Town Council in 2011. He then went on to represent the town on the borough council in 2015.

Carl Quartermain, leader of the Labour group, said Coun Teasdale was “the definition of a true gentleman” and would be sorely missed.