Former Southport Mayor Richard Hands Passes Away at 78

The death has been announced of former Lib Dem councillor and former Mayor, Richard Hands aged 78. Richard was a much loved local councillor who represented Birkdale between 1986 and his retirement due to ill health in 2021. He moved with his family in the 1980s to Southport from Great Yarmouth and threw himself into local community action and politics winning Birkdale from the Conservatives in 1986 and holding it until stepping down in 2021 following complications from cardiac surgery.

“People of all political persuasions and none will be saddened by his passing,” said his colleague, former Southport  MP, John Pugh. “ He was a much loved figure without a malicious bone in his body- particularly kind and supportive to all those starting out in life or in their careers. Years after ill health had blighted and scarred him scores of people would still ask after him and remember him fondly. 

He loved his adopted town with a passion, fighting to save the Pier when it was threatened with demolition and showing up regularly at Haig Avenue no matter how the results were going. His height made him instantly memorable, but he had a big heart to match. 

Towards the end of his council political career he became something of an expert in planning but there was nothing planned about Richard’s life- he just responded warmly and constructively to whatever challenges and opportunities that life threw in his way. "