Former Councillor Don Seale
Councillor Seale served as a county councillor from 1997-2013. He represented the former Burford Division from 1997-2005 and the Bampton Division from 2005-2013.
He served on the county council's cabinet, from 2001-2007, overseeing the portfolios for community care, health, social services, adult learning and cultural services. During his time as a councillor he also served on a range of committees including:
- Adult Services Scrutiny Committee (serving as Chairman)
- Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee (serving as Deputy Chairman)
- Employees Joint Committee
- Teachers Joint Committee
- Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee
- Pension Fund Committee
- Planning & Regulation Committee
Don was Vice-Chairman of the Council in 2011/12 and became Chairman in 2012/13, in the year leading up to the 2013 elections - at which point he stood down as a county councillor.
Councillor Ian Hudspeth, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "Don had a distinguished career in the military before entering political life. He was a practical, intelligent man with an abundance of common sense. He could give the first impression of being stern but was in fact a kind, courteous, thoughtful and polite gentleman. He also had a dry wit that shone through - particularly in his year as Chairman of the County Council.
"He gave sterling service to council in a range of positions and to his constituents in western Oxfordshire. He was respected across the political divide and will be remembered fondly by officers and councillors alike. Our thoughts are with Don's family at this difficult time."