Tributes paid to one of Hove's longest-serving councillors

Garry Peltzer Dunn, who served as a councillor in Hove for almost five decades, died surrounded by his family after a short illness.

During his time representing Vallance and later Wish ward on Hove Borough Council and Brighton and Hove City Council, he served as leader of the council between 1987 and 1991, Mayor of Brighton and Hove in 2008 and more recently on the East Sussex Fire Authority.

Conservative councillor Robert Nemeth, who also represents Wish ward, regularly worked with Garry on a range of issues affecting residents in Hove.

Cllr Garry Peltzer Dunn and Cllr Robert Nemeth worked to restore Hove Beacon ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year (Image: Brighton and Hove Conservatives)

He said: “I am truly devastated by the passing of my friend and mentor. Everybody viewed Garry as a true gentleman with impeccable manners and a wonderful sense of humour.

“Our community will certainly feel this loss.”

Among Garry’s achievements while in office was to confer the Honorary Freeman of the city on Henry Allingham, Britain’s then-oldest man, who was recognised for exceptional service during both the First and Second World Wars.

Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said Garry was “punctilious and to the letter to the last”.

He said: “When I was first elected, his reputation as a former leader preceded him, but he always had a way of ensuring that the political never became the personal - a skill we would all do well to learn.

“With a twinkle in his eye, Garry always put the people he represented first and was kind and supportive to councillors from all parties and none.

“Garry was renowned for his at-first obscure, detailed questions, whose punch soon became clear. He also had a penchant for telling you when you’d not even remotely answered the question.

“He also was never shy of celebrating when the city - more accurately, Hove - won something. I know he did this with passion for the Kingsway to the Sea project which is one of the projects we’d both been working on before his untimely death.

“He held power to account with a form of grace and decency. I am confident he will be sorely missed by councillors from all parties.”

Garry served as a former council leader for Hove and saved a sign that welcomed people into the town before Hove merged with Brighton in 1997 (Image: Simon Dack)

Labour MP for Hove and shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle also paid tribute to Garry’s half-century service.

He said: “Garry served our community for an incredible 50 years and did so with decency and the concerns of residents firmly in mind.

“I’ll miss our chats, always warm and friendly even when disagreeing.”

The co-leaders of the city’s Labour group, Carmen Appich and John Allcock, said they were “shocked and saddened” by his death, describing him as a “true gentleman, who was a shining example of being able to debate agreeably with colleagues”.

In a statement, Cllr Appich and Cllr Allcock said: “He treated councillors of all parties and none, officers and residents alike with respect and courtesy, and he worked tirelessly for his local residents and in service of the city for half a century.

“We will miss his presence, his calmness, his humour and his good nature in the council chamber.

“Brighton and Hove has lost a dutiful public servant and a good man.”

Labour councillor for South Portslade Les Hamilton served on the council with Cllr Peltzer Dunn for almost half a century. He described Garry as a “very good councillor, who was always thoughtful and rational in his contributions”.

Cllr Hamilton said: “Having known Garry for so long, this sudden passing has come as a great shock.

“He will be greatly missed by all those who have served with him over the many years of his service to local government.”

A spokesman for the Brighton and Hove Conservative group said that Garry’s death “will be felt by the many people who came to know him right across the city”.

He said: “He was known as a true gentleman by all who came to know him. The thoughts of everyone are with Garry’s family at this time.”

Garry worked to resolve issues for residents in his ward, including injuries on pavements in his ward (Image: George Carden)

Friends of Garry over the years also paid tribute to Garry, with James McKemey recalling times when he played cricket with him.

James said: “He was a member of my cricket club and I played with him as a youth in our Sunday team - where he was quietly devastating.”

Hove resident Chris Holden said he spoke to Garry while serving as a teller at a local election.

He said: “Being able to talk amicably with someone with whom you disagree politically is a lost art for many.”