The family of local campaigner Sidney Fairhead, who died last month, have paid tribute to a man described as the “kicker of Elmbridge Council’s backside”.
Sid, as he was known to friends and family, lived in Douglas Road, Esher, and was a familiar face in the area as the man who ran the newsagents at Esher station from 1986 until last year.
Sid was born in Cobham in 1921, where he grew up with older brother Len and two younger brothers Charlie and Arthur.
Sid’s parents split up and he eventually moved to Balham with his mother where he finished his education and started work in a grocery shop in the area.
In 1941, Sid volunteered for the RAF, where he trained as an engineer and worked on planes such as Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters.
After the war, he started working in the grocery trade for a while, before marrying Sue at Christ Church in Esher in 1947. Their first son David was born in 1948, followed by a second son, Raymond, in 1951, and daughter Debbie in 1966.
They moved to Douglas Road in 1969.
During this time, Sid worked at Vickers in Weybridge, where he worked on planes such as the Valiant Bomber and the Concorde 002, the first experimental Concorde in this country.
He then went to work at Hawkers (later BAE) in Kingston until his retirement in 1986.
Sid’s passion for the local community saw him help set up the Esher Residents’ Association and become chairman of the Lower Green Tenants Association.
He also fought the formation of the Elmbridge Housing Trust, believing many residents were unaware of the changes it would bring, and campaigned for a bus service from Esher station.
His son David said: “He liked working at the railway station - meeting lots and lots of people and discussing what he thought was right and wrong. I am sure many people will have appreciated what he did, while some will have disagreed.
“He was born in Cobham and saw a lot of injustice. After Esher Urban District Council became Elmbridge Council, he thought it was top heavy with people in administration positions - it became too unwieldy. He was known locally because he was the kicker of Elmbridge Council’s backside.
“He would do anything for anyone and would always help where he could. He was always there to help family, friends and neighbours and will be sadly missed.”
In a letter to Sue, after Sid’s death, Esher and Walton MP Ian Taylor said: “I admired Sid’s genuine commitment to issues which concerned him and the community. He was tenacious in raising matter on behalf of others. Although I was not always in agreement, I did my best to seek answers - and sometimes he acknowledged I had given him the right ones. I enjoyed our lively discussions.”
In 2006, Sid’s son Ray died of multiple myeloma and his family said he found it very difficult to come to terms with the loss.
Sid died peacefully in Kingston Hospital on Saturday, August 29. His funeral was held at the Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, on Friday, September 11.
He leaves his wife Sue, son David, daughter Debbie, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
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