06 Oct 2023
Friends, family and former colleagues have been paying tribute to former councillor Dick Downs, who has died aged 76.
Dick, who for many years represented Park Street on St Albans District Council and St Stephen’s Parish Council was an important and influential figure in the local community.
He founded the Park Street Players amateur dramatic society, regularly appeared in their productions and was the driving force behind the renovation, refurbishment and maintenance of the thriving Park Street village hall where one of the meeting rooms is named after him.
“Dick believed in people and believed good people make a good community,” said Paul Ennis, one of the co-founders of the Park Street Players. “ And Dick also believed a good community helps make good people.”
Dick was born in Cheshire but moved to St Albans in 1969 after meeting his wife to be Margaret. She survives him along with his son Paul and daughter Nicky.
“Dick was a lovely friendly man who really cared about his community,” said Joy Mendelsohn, chair of the Park Street Residents Association.
“He worked hard to improve the local area, happily took up and fought causes on behalf of others and we’re going to miss him.”
