Tributes paid to much-loved ex-GCHQ worker and Gloucester councillor 'Mr Tuffley' Gerald Dee

Gloucester City Council held a minute's silence in honour of former councillor Gerald Dee
-Credit: (Image: GCC)


Gloucester City Council fell silent last week to honour the passing of “Mr Tuffley”, the former councillor Gerald Dee. Mr Dee was a former County Councillor and served on the City Council for 14 years.

The husband to Paula, father to Tricia and Chris, grandfather to Joanna, Claire, Tom, Livi and Jim and great-grandfather to Eleni and Lila died on August 24 at Magdalen House residential home. His wife Paula and other family members were present at the City Council meeting on September 19.

All those present at North Warehouse observed a minute’s silence before Mayor Lorraine Campbell (C, Tuffley) led the tributes. She thanked everyone on behalf of Mrs Dee for the kind messages and support and those who attended his funeral.

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Cllr Campell said that without Paula and Gerald’s encouragement she would not have put herself forward to be a councillor. “I owe my council and civic journey to them both,” she said.

“Right from his teen years, Gerald was volunteering in his community, always stepping up and stepping in for others. To improve the situation for all. He definitely earned his title Mr Tuffley.”

She said she got to know him from 2012 when restoring the stage at St Barnabas Hall and in setting up the Footlights Friendship group in 2017. “Without Gerald, none of these community assets would exist. Not even the hall itself which he saved from demolition on several occasions," she said.

“He was baptised there 90 years ago when it was a temporary church. And he is quite literally embedded into the fabric of the building. Having shown me the initials he had carved into the wooden table leg in the kitchen as a mischievous lad.

All those present at North Warehouse observed a minute’s silence before Mayor Lorraine Campbell (C, Tuffley) led the tributes
All those present at North Warehouse observed a minute’s silence before Mayor Lorraine Campbell (C, Tuffley) led the tributes -Credit:GCC

“Well Gerald, like the table leg we all have G.D. engraved on our hearts forever more. Thank you my friend.”

Councillors from across the political spectrum paid warm tributes to the former councillor. Tory group leader Stephanie Chambers said he was dedicated to his community. While her deputy Andy Lewis (C Quedgeley) said he knew Gerald for 20 years.

He said the former GCHQ worker had an analytical mind and was a gentleman and would never speak out of turn. “No-one quite knows what he did there but I’m sure he saved this country a lot of bother,” he said.

Liberal Democrat leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said Gerald was a non-partisan councillor. “Gerald was a very nice bloke,” he said.

“He would often have his say. He wasn't one of those partisan characters like myself. He was non-partisan; he would often catch me in the car park after the meetings to talk about what had been debating in the meeting.

Mr Dee is among those whose death has been announced this week
Gerald Dee was well liked by councillors and the Tuffley community he represented -Credit:Family submission

He said he served the people of Gloucester and Tuffley well and was sad to hear of his passing. Labour leader Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) expressed condolences on behalf of his group.

“Gerald was a gentleman in every sense of the word,” he said. “He was loyal to this chamber, loyal to the council, he was loyal to the people of Tuffley.”

He said he was a grounded person who was incredibly well liked. Community Independent group leader Alastair Chambers (Matson, Robinswood and White City) said what he knew of Gerald was that he was a pleasant man.

“I feel gutted I didn’t get to know him as well as everybody here because he sounds like a really nice man. Maybe I would have learnt something from him about being a gentleman.”