Obituary – Adrian Axford

The Isle of Wight councillor for Ryde North West, Adrian Axford, has died after a short illness aged 75.
Adrian was born in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1945, and grew up in the Thames Valley, attending Windsor Boys’ Grammar School. In 1963 he spent a year in Algeria teaching in a school in Oran, before going to St John’s College, Oxford where he read modern languages.

He married Anne in 1973 and worked as a management accountant living in Italy and Maidenhead before moving to the Isle of Wight in 1981.
On moving to the Island, he worked for Clark Masts and Temperature Ltd, combining this with his political life as a county councillor. When Temperature moved to the mainland, he and a colleague, Malcolm Dredge, bought out the coil and sheet metal part of the business and set up Axford Engineering.
Adrian retrained as a teacher in the 1990s, and worked for some years at Cowes High School before retirement.

Since retiring from teaching, Adrian was a committed and hardworking councillor, both for Ryde Town Council and the Isle of Wight Council. He spent two terms as Deputy Mayor for the Town Council, and recently served as Chair of the Finance Committee.
He served as Chair of the Audit Committee and the Pension Fund Committee for four years at County Hall.
He represented Ryde North West over many years, and was well known in the ward as a hardworking and diligent councillor.
He was also deeply involved with the local community. He served as President of the Isle of Wight Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus for a number of years, as well as the Brigstocke Almshouses, the Caring Cancer Trust, the Riverside Centre, Community Action and numerous other local organisations.

He served as Chairman of the Adoption Panel on the Island for a number of years, and, with Anne, was a foster carer.
Council leader, Dave Steward, paid tribute. He said: “Adrian gave a lifetime of service to his community and those who crossed his path experienced a man dedicated to the good of others. He served the council and the community in a way which drew respect from everyone.”
He is survived by Anne, sister, Christine, daughters, Cindy and Lucy, son, Gary, grandson, Rhys, and granddaughters, Primrose and Lilac.
A memorial service will be arranged for later this year.