Tributes to former Conservative councillor who was ‘true public servant’

Tributes have been paid to a former Conservative councillor and ‘true public servant’ whose hard work in politics spanned more than 20 years.

David Hilton represented the Ascot and Sunninghill community as a borough councillor for two decades and forged a reputation of being a person of ‘great integrity and intelligence’.

The 82-year-old, who died on March 3, has been described as a true community leader who was widely respected within the council chamber at Maidenhead Town Hall.

A tribute from the Windsor Conservative Association said: “For over 21 years, David served as a Conservative councillor, working tirelessly for the residents he represented.

“He was widely respected, not only for his knowledge and expertise but for his professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to public service.”

The statement added: “David was deeply valued by his colleagues, members of the Windsor Conservative Association, and the wider local community.

“His dedication, kindness, and integrity made a lasting impact, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His legacy will live on in the many initiatives he championed.”

David’s serious involvement in politics in the Royal Borough started in 2001, aged 58, when he won a by-election in Ascot and Cheapside ward which followed the death of former councillor Don Jones.

A practical councillor with a persistent attitude who gave serious thought to a variety of problems, David was known for often being ‘the voice of reason’.

A man who valued integrity in politics, he is remembered by his councillor colleagues for that very quality – as well as his expertise and deftness in the disciplines of finance and planning.

He served as cabinet member for finance under the Conservative administration led by Andrew Johnson and was tasked with helping the local authority navigate the extremely challenging coronavirus pandemic.

He was ‘well known and respected’ in the broader local government sphere, as a parish councillor at Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council, chairman of the Windsor Conservatives at one time, and on the Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund for more than 16 years.

Former council leader Andrew Johnson said: “He was a true public servant - he was thoughtful, he was dedicated and certainly tenacious in wanting to deliver for the Royal Borough and the residents of Ascot. He really was very much Mr Ascot in that regard.

“It was never about status or profile for him - it was all about getting on with the job at hand. He worked incredibly hard and you couldn’t ask for more than that for any public representative.”

His work in the Ascot community included establishing the Ascot Neighbourhood Action Group and the Ascot Project, a charity that has provided weekly shopping trips for the elderly.

Leader of the RBWM group of Conservative councillors, Councillor Maureen Hunt, said:

“He was a dedicated public servant and a tenacious councillor who sought to give the best the council could give for his beloved Windsor and was always on hand to help his residents and community.

“He was held in high regard by his fellow councillors during all these years and his advice was always sound, reasonable and actionable.

“He was truly a man of substance.”

The Windsor Conservative Association paid tribute too, describing David as ‘a true community leader, a loyal and committed Conservative, a dedicated public servant, and a cherished member of the Ascot and Sunninghill community.’

“He was widely respected, not only for his knowledge and expertise but for his professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to public service,” they said.

“David was deeply valued by his colleagues, members of the Windsor Conservative Association, and the wider local community.

“His legacy will live on in the many initiatives he championed.”

The parish council also paid tribute to David as a ‘a highly respected, long-standing member’ saying: “David particularly devoted his time to parish connections with RBWM.

“He was always intensely interested in all council matters and supported and volunteered to assist with its various events without hesitation.”

Also paying tribute, Windsor MP Jack Rankin said:

“I was greatly saddened to learn of David’s passing. My thoughts are with his wife Barbara and their wider family.

“An outstanding local public servant, he cared deeply about our local community, severing as a longstanding Borough and Parish Councillor for Ascot and Sunninghill.

“David’s dedication to his residents and the local Conservative Party was clear for all to see, and he will be sorely missed by so many locally.”

Councillors observed a minute’s silence in memory of the 82-year-old during a full council meeting at Maidenhead Town Hall on Wednesday, March 5.