After 32 years on council, Daphne is calling it a day

‘I had to stand in seven elections before a win’

Whoever voters choose in next week’s poll, there will be one big difference in the council chamber.

For the first time in 32 years, Daphne Parvin will not be in her seat as she is retiring.

Cllr Parvin joined in May 1984, when she was elected for Detling. After boundary changes, she represented North Downs.

In more than three decades, she has served on countless committees and as mayor in 1991-92. She was also a cabinet member under Cllr Eric Hotson’s leadership.

Her late husband Peter followed her into politics and she was mayoress in 2009-10 when it was his turn to be mayor.

She was continuing a family tradition in that her father, James King, had been the charter Mayor of Ilford. The youngest of his 13 children, she was the only one to follow him into politics.

But getting elected had not been easy – firstly as she couldn’t stand while Peter was serving in the local police force.

“When it did become possible, I had to stand in seven elections before finally winning the seat.”

She considers managing to persuade the county council to provide Stockbury with a minibus after the village lost its postbus as one of her main achievements.

She has seen the council run under the committee system, the cabinet system and then return to the committee system – which she believes is the best way.

Both she and her husband sometimes incurred the wrath of their fellow Conservatives because of the close friendships they maintained with some councillors from opposition parties.

But she said: “In general the atmosphere is much better now. There used to be long hours of debate, especially over finances, but there seems to be far less bitterness now. I was younger then and had more fire myself.”

She said: “I have enjoyed every day of my 32 years in office – except perhaps when a resident has phoned up with a lengthy problem just as we were sitting down to Sunday lunch.

“I shall miss the council, the people, but mainly I shall miss my ward.”

Cllr Parvin intends to do more gardening and spend time with her seven great-grandchildren.