Tributes to former Pinchbeck parish councillor Maurice Chappell who gave decades of service to the community and was Honorary Freeman

Tributes have been paid to a well respected community champion who left a lasting legacy for people across our district.

Former Pinchbeck parish councillor Maurice Chappell died aged 94 in December, just a few weeks after his wife Vera.

The couple, who lived in West Pinchbeck, had dedicated their time to the area, with Mr Chappell spending 40 years on the parish council and even being named as an Honorary Freeman of Pinchbeck in 2019.

Adrian Chappell, one of the couple’s four children, says his father was passionate about many things - from football and cricket to spending time in the Lake District.

However, both Maurice and Vera dedicated their lives to researching Down’s Syndrome after their daughter Claire was born with the condition in 1965.

Adrian said: “Dad strived to find out more information as he realised how little help and advice was available.

“The lack of interest from the authorities frustrated him and he was not prepared to see Claire or anyone else ‘shoved in a home’, so he set out to do something about it.

“Alongside his work on Pinchbeck Parish Council, the development of the Springfields Gardens and even chairing the Spalding Flower Parade in 1973, he worked tirelessly to find out more about how the lives of people with learning disabilities could be improved.

“He set out on a long road that would last the rest of his and Vera’s lives. She was always supportive of everything he was involved in.”

The couple joined the Spalding Mencap Society in the late 1960s before joining other committee members in setting up the Spalding Gateway club in 1972.

Adrian said: “They met every Friday in the school room of Broad Street Methodist Church and seldom missed a night for 47 years, only stopping because of the Covid lockdown.

“He didn’t stop there, he also got involved with Mencap at committee and board level across the district, becoming chairman of the Priory School governors and the Garth school board of governors.

“He campaigned rigorously in 2006 to prevent the school from closure, along with stopping Spalding’s Chappell Centre - which was named after his father - from being closed.”

Mr Chappell was given an MBE in 2014 for services to people with severe learning disabilities and their families.

However, on learning that he would only be able to take two people with him to Buckingham Palace, he opted to receive the honour closer to home.

Adrian said: “He didn’t want to choose between family members - it was all the family or none.

“Maurice and Vera’s involvement in the local community is well documented and their names will be remembered for a long time to come.”

The Spalding Mencap Society’s treasurer, Wendy Houghton, said the Chappells’ deaths are a ‘big loss’. She said: “Maurice and Vera were involved in Mencap and Gateway from when it began 50 years ago.

“They worked extremely hard to do anything they could to improve the lives of and facilities for people with learning difficulties, from fundraising or visiting people, to attending committee meetings.

“Up until Covid, they would regularly attend meetings and would join in as volunteers with the club every week.

“It was a real passion for them both.

“We were adamant that we would carry on in a bid to continue the good work they did.

“This is a big loss for us.”

Pinchbeck Parish Council chairman James Avery served on the council with Mr Chappell for many years.

He said: “I’ve known Maurice for as long as I’ve been a member of Pinchbeck Parish Council.

“By that time Maurice had already served on the council for several decades.

“Maurice was always very thoughtful and had a view on all items of business concerning Pinchbeck East and West, and always had time for people.

“It was most befitting that a small housing development was named after him - Maurice Chappell Way.

“Hopefully this will remind residents of a hard working, dedicated family man. He will be missed.”