‘Amaverickwhotaught metospeakout’- cityMP

Two prominent Conservative politicians in the city have paid tribute to Neville Sanders. Mr Sanders was Peterborough City Council leader when Stewart Jackson was selected as the parliamentary candidate for Peterborough in 2000. The Peterborough MP said: “Neville was a big figure and was really a one off and one of the last of his generation in municipal politics. “He served diligently and showed strong leadership at a time of instability and turbulence at the Town Hall. He was a maverick who taught me a lesson - speak out if you think you’re right, without fear or favour. “Above all, he cared passionately and with pride about his home city and the Lido will be among a number of legacies he leaves behind.” Current council leader Councillor John Holdich was cabinet member for housing and social services when Mr Sanders was leader. He said: “In my 39 years as a councillor I’ve worked with many leaders and he rates as one of the best. “Peterborough City Council was a sleepy council going absolutely nowhere and in financial difficulties. He took it over and kicked it into shape. “His legacy is he turned this council in the right direction and transformed it into a more business-like machine. “I worked with him very closely and we had a mutual respect for one another. I learnt a lot from him and now I think ‘what would Neville have done about that’? “He was a very generous hearted man, but sometimes he could have thought before he said something. “He funded an awful lot of things for people. He was a man of means and would put his money where his mouth is. “I know stories where he has funded young people to go to different colleges. “He pioneered saving the Lido. That was what the people wanted and he had the biggest knack of anybody of saying what people were saying on the streets. He understood Mr Average.”