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23
Aug 2023
Memorial service for long-serving Harrogate councillor
A memorial service will be held this week for a long-standing councillor and former Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate.
Jim Clark served for 20 years on North Yorkshire County Council, representing the Harlow Hill division, and was the organisation's chairman during the covid pandemic.
In this role, at the age of 73, he was among the first to have a covid vaccine in February 2021, wearing a tartan face mask for the occasion.
He was also a Harrogate Borough Council member, representing the Harlow ward for the Conservatives from 1998, and served as its mayor.
Mr Clark took a particular interest in health matters during his time as a councillor, representing North Yorkshire County Council on the West Yorkshire Health Scrutiny Panel.
He called for an enquiry into the Nightingale hospital set up at Harrogate Convention Centre in April 2020, and for staff at Harrogate District Hospital to be allowed to continue to park free in its car park after the initial months of the pandemic.
Professionally, Mr Clark was an accountant, achieving chartered status and being appointed head of entrepreneurial services at Ernst and Young.
He was a keen supporter of the arts, serving as chairman of the Harrogate Theatre board for a decade.
He also took an interest in community organisations, including the Friends of Valley Gardens
Read more:
- Council chairman rolls up sleeve for covid vaccine
- Call for inquiry into Harrogate's Nightingale hospital
- Tributes paid to long-serving Harrogate councillor who has died
Mr Clark stepped down as a councillor in May 2022 and moved to be closer to family in Scotland, where he died in December.
He left two sons, Andrew and James, a daughter-in-law, Pamela, and three grandsons.
He was posthumously awarded the title of honorary alderman of Harrogate on the abolition of the borough council in March.
A memorial service for Mr Clark will take place at St Wilfrid's Church on Duchy Road on Friday, August 25 at 2pm, followed by refreshments at the Old Swan Hotel.
The occasion will be a celebration of his life, so his family have requested that attendees do not wear black.
Anyone who would like to attend should contact Andrew Clark on 07710 709172, or by email.
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