Sheldon Peart Talks About Bobby Montague The Councillor!!!!

Sheldon Peart

The recent fraud case in the Manchester Municipal Corporation has puzzled many of us who worked in the former Parish Councils. The rigid systems of checks and balance and reporting, which were in place twenty years ago may have been deemed outdated and discarded for more modern approaches.

That aside, I still wouldn't exchange any of my Parish Council years, especially the decade of the 90s when I served as Secretary Manager (Now CEO) of St Mary Parish Council.

Council meetings were of the highest calibre. It was a joy to listen to the eloquent Cllr-Hurley Taylor, the verbose Cllr-Clive Lopez and the loquacious, and if needs be, disruptive Cllr- Bobby Montaque. The autocratic, bi-lingual and experienced Chairman, Cllr-Fitz Nicholson got under everyone's skin, especially when he resorted to his second language and was describing the colourful 'cloths' which he alone wore.

Min. Robert Montague

The political rivalry was intense. Twelve PNP councillors found their match in the wily Bobby Montaque, the only JLP councillor. So, picture Council meeting with Hurley Taylor and Clive Lopez leading the debate on a matter which Bobby Montaque opposes vociferously and will not relent.

Cllr Lopez is on his feet, head in the air, 'waxing warm.' Cllr Montaque interrupts, like a mischievous schoolboy, "Your big words is the same as talking rubbish. That is a recipe for disaster. Shut up and sit down."

Cllr Lopez is fuming. "Mr Chairman, ask him to withdraw his statement. He must withdraw."

Chairman, Cllr Nicholson, hides his face, smiling, but does nothing.

Cllr Lopez turns to Cllr Montague and shouts, "You're out of order. I say withdraw it. Withdraw."

Jumping from his seat, his face riddled with mischief, Cllr Montague says, "Withdraw? If your ugly daddy had withdrawn, you wouldn't be here disturbing the meeting."

Pandemonium. Meeting mash-up.

Me, popping up. "Mr Chairman, do something. The reporters are here... Adjourn it."

Chairman, Cllr Nicholson bangs the gavel, hardly able to contain himself. "Order. Order." Uncontrollable laughter. "We're taking a ten minutes recess."

Needless to say, the meeting never resumed. We were almost at the end anyway.

And what happened after the meeting? Cllrs Lopez, Sutherland and Bobby Montaque all left in Lopez' car to their watering hole someplace up the road.

I'll never forget Cllr Leon Francis' famous words, "When all is said and done, more must be done than is said."

O for the good ole days!

More next time.