Tributes paid to Grantham councillor and former chairman of South Kesteven District Council who has died aged 71
Tributes have been paid to a Grantham councillor and former chairman of South Kesteven District Council, Councillor Ray Wootten, who died at the weekend.
Coun Wootten was Conservative Councillor for Grantham St Wulfram’s ward and was also the County Councillor for Grantham North.
He was elected to SKDC in 2007 and was chairman in 2015-16. He was also a former chairman of Lincolnshire County Council.
Coun Wootten had a successful year as Mayor of Grantham in 2009/10 raising more than £15,000 for local good causes.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, a former member of SKDC, and his two grown-up children.
The leader of SKDC, Coun Richard Cleaver, said: “Coun Ray Wootten dedicated more than 20 years to serving the people of South Kesteven, in particular those constituents he represented in Grantham, and naturally we were shocked and saddened to hear of his passing.
“Ray was a dedicated and hard-working councillor with a wide range of expertise and his public service touched the lives of many people. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are very much with his wife, Linda, and their family at this difficult time.”
The chairman of the Council, Coun Gloria Johnson, said: “Ray’s commitment to supporting his community was unquestionable. The fact that he served as a district and county councillor as well as a Grantham trustee showed the level of his dedication.
“I would like to express my sympathy and deepest condolences to Ray’s family and friends. Our thoughts are with them at this sad time.”
Before moving to Grantham Coun Wootten was a police officer with Bedfordshire Police for 22 years, following service with the Royal Air Force.
He was a leading figure on the Grantham East Neighbourhood Police Panel and a former chairman of Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel.
Passionate about serving the community, he strove to make the community a safer place to live and strongly promoted the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
He was a member of Grantham Lions Club and a governor at two local schools, and also a former Chairman of the Grantham Almshouses charity.
Coun Wootten was a strong supporter of strong health provision and attended Grantham Hospital board meetings while also being a member of Shaping Health for Mid Kesteven.
He recently met Andrew Morgan, the chief executive of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, to discuss the future of services at Grantham Hospital.
Councillor Wootten was elected to the county council in June 2009 and served as chairman of the council from May 2013 to May 2014.
He was Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee from May 2021 to May 2022, vice-chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board from December 2017 to May 2021 and vice-chairman of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee from May 2015 to May 2017.
Coun Wootten was also chairman of South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum from July 2012 to May 2019.
He was one of the original members of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel and was elected as the inaugural chairman of the panel, undertaking this role from November 2012 until June 2013. He was subsequently elected vice-chairman of the panel.
Fellow hospital campaigner and Grantham District Councillor Charmaine Morgan said: “As Chair of SOS Grantham Hospital I was terribly sad to hear of the loss of District and County Councillor Ray Wootten. Although we did not always agree, Ray, and his wife Linda, have the interests of Grantham Hospital at heart. Not many have campaigned as long or hard for our community.
“When SOS Grantham Hospital handed in our petition of over 80,000 signatures opposing the downgrade of our A&E to 10 Downing Street, Ray and Linda came too.
“When SOS Grantham Hospital held our march through Grantham for our A&E Ray and Linda were there for that.
“When ULHT closed Grantham Hospital during Covid 19, a move which Sosgh subsequently successfully supported the challenge of in a Judicial Review, only Ray, as a member of LCC Health Scrutiny, argued against the ULHT case for closure.
“His subsequent personal health issues and acute care experience only strengthened his determination.
“When I drafted the most recent motion for the district council to oppose the downgrade of Grantham A&E to an Urgent Treatment Centre Linda and Ray supported me in debate although, unfortunately, the Conservative Group as a whole did not when it came to the vote. Ray's commitment to our hospital campaign will be sorely missed.
“I also worked with Ray as a Charter Trustee where his experience and commitment will also be missed. Thoughts and prayers go to Linda and family at this sad time.”
Former leader of SKDC Kelham Cooke also paid tribute. He said: "It was with great sadness that I learnt about the sad death of a good friend and colleague, Coun Ray Wootten.
“Ray was an exemplar to all of us in public service, from working in the RAF, a senior police officer and later in Local Government. He contributed so much to Grantham and wider Lincolnshire and I will personally miss Ray for his wit and good sense of humour. My thoughts and prayers go out to Linda and their family."
Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Ray was a very well respected and long-serving conservative councillor for Grantham and nearby villages. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Linda, family and friends, at this sad time.
“His valuable contributions to the work of the county council will be sorely missed. He had represented Grantham North on Lincolnshire County Council since 2009 and held the post of chairman of the county council in 2013-14. He was also chairman of our Environmental and Economy Scrutiny Committee from 2021-22.
“Ray was a great champion for Grantham, in particular in his relentless support for local residents in protecting services at Grantham hospital.
“With his police background, he took a keen interest on community safety, serving as the inaugural chairman of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel in 2013 before taking up the post of vice-chairman for some years. Everything he did was done with care and great diligence and his public service will be a great loss to Grantham and Lincolnshire.”
Coun Wootten suffered a stroke in 2022 but recovered to resume his duties with SKDC. He was re-elected at the local elections held in May this year.
