Obituary - Bob Pritchard
On Monday night some of you may have been watching 'Code of a Killer' the story of the first murderer to be caught through DNA fingerprinting, pioneered by Dr Alec Jefferys at Leicester University.
Professor Robert (Bob) Pritchard, the man who set up and recruited him to the Genetics Dept at the University passed away over the weekend after a long period in a vegetative state. As well as being a notable scientist he was a prominent Liberal activist for over two decades.
Alec Jeffreys said that as soon as he met Professor Robert Pritchard, who founded the university department of genetics, he felt drawn to it.
Bob created a collegiate environment, almost on the lines of a commune: no prima donnas, just everyone interacting well with each other. I knew I could be happy within that, so I took a gamble, and have never regretted it.'
When the Tories in Leicester proposed to make Gary Lineker a freeman of the city in a fit of blatant populism the Labour administration responded by putting Alec Jeffreys forward. At the ceremony they were mortified when Alec spent part of his speech praising Bob as a professional inspiration. The Labour councillors hated Bob as the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council and the most effective challenger to the Labour orthodoxy in what was effectively a one-party state.
After several unsuccessful attempts Bob was elected to represent East Knighton on Leicester City Council in 1987. (I was his agent in that campaign, and after a subsequent by-election his co-councillor). He became a county councillor two years later. Due to his diligent campaigning in the ward and his persistence in holding Labour to account in the council chamber he became widely respected by his electors. We would sometimes meet local Tory activists who would admit to voting for him (but not me!). In what had once been a ward with a four figure Tory majority, Bob polled over 2,000 votes and the Tories less than a thousand. (Some of his election literature can be seen in early editions of ALDC's 'How to Win Local elections')
As a county councillor he provided astute leadership of the Liberal Democrat group at County Hall, on an authority where no one party had overall control. He was a firm believer that getting Lib Dem policies enacted was more important than getting special responsibility allowances. By avoiding formal alliances with other parties he ensured that the Lib Dem group flourished.
Bob was a champion of the individual against the state and often cited DNA fingerprinting as a great advance in shifting the balance from the disbelieving and arbitrary state to the disenfranchised asylum seeker who was now able to prove his or her genetic inheritance.
At a local level he firmly believed in empowering people, and his attitude to much casework and many local issues was that his role was not to serve the local community, but to empower it and the individuals within it - a true advocate of community politics as originally envisioned by Bernard Greaves and Gordon Lishman.
Bob remained a councillor in Leicester until illness hospitalised him in 2002. He was a frequent speaker at Party Conference and involved in policy formation at the national level. Above all he inspired those who worked closely with him; I know I am not the only activist in the party who would describe him as a formative political influence.
He is sadly missed.
* Arnie Gibbons is a former Chair of East Midlands Region, former member of Federal Conference Committee and has been a Liberal Democrat councillor in Leicester, Islington and Richmond.
Parmjit Singh Gill writes
Bob was hugely influential in my joining the Liberal Democrats almost two decades ago, after I approached him with a legal case of national significance involving Hackney Carriages and European legislation. He was charming, articulate but above all an exceptionally good listener. He quickly grasped the arguments and injected into the council chamber a level of intellectual debate that few could match, even to this day. This along with his professional integrity provided him with a degree of respect that few could command.
Cllr David Bill writes:
Professor Pritchard was highly respected both in academic circles where Sir Alex Jeffreys acknowledged him as the pioneer in his vital research which led to the discovery of DNA and in local political circles.
Politically he played a major role as leader of The Liberal Democrat group on the County Council at a time when Leicestershire was in the state of no overall control. His influence was significant and acknowledged by members of all political groups.
Bob's intellectual ability combined with his personal modest charm won widespread respect. On more than one occasion he was able to find a solution to a seemingly insoluble problem.
Bob was also a mainstay of the Leicester Liberal Democrats and freely offered his hospitality and expertise. When he sadly became unwell he left a gap which nobody could fill in the same way.
Valerie and David Bill
Joan Garrity writes
Ex Leicestershire County Councillor until Unitary, then Leicester City Councillor from 1997 to 2001. Greatly respected and like by opposition political parties. When Bob stood up to speak in Council, their was always respectful silence, listening to his informed and balanced arguments.
Likewise at National Conferences, both spoke, everyone listened to his knowledgeable informed arguments. He last spoke at conference about GM crops.
Bob took ill and has been hospitalised since 2001, was greatly missed by constituents whatever political persuasion, not least for the fabulous garden parties he held at his home, helping other local parties to raise valuable funds.
Rest in peace now Bob, thank you for your friendship.
Stuart Bray writes
Prof. Bob Pritchard was a long standing Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councillor and a truly brilliant man in his day
Leicester City Liberal Democrats
Bob's funeral will be held at Leicester Gilroes Cemetary A50, Groby Road, Leicester on Friday 24th April at 2.30pm. Afterwards at The Craddock Arms, Knighton, Leicester from 3.45pm. If you intend to go to the wake, please let Naomi Matthews know by email: naoki@hartzz.com