Papers of George Brooker OBE

This collection comprises the political and personal papers of George Brooker (1921-1999), councillor for the Borough of Dagenham (later amalgamated with the Borough of Barking to become the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham) and member of the Labour Party, including minute books of Dagenham Borough Council Group of Labour Party Concillors (1931-1954) and minute books of the Dagenham Division of the Labour Party (1936-1975), accompanied by correspondence, scrapbooks, newspaper cuttings, photographs and films, relating to his time as Mayor and then the Leader of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council, as well as his poetry and work as a sculptor.

George Brooker OBE was elected as a Labour Councillor for the former Dagenham Borough Council in 1947 and served Beacontree Heath Ward, Valence Ward and Triptons Ward. In addition to numerous Council Committees, he also represented the Council on many outside Governing Bodies including that of the North East London Polytechnic, Greater London (North Eastern) Valuation Panel, National Health Service Joint Consultative Committee, Police Liaison Panel and Community Police Consultative Group, North East Thames Industrial Consultative Group, Association of London Authorities and Metropolitan Authorities, London Borough Association and Barking & Dagenham Centre for the Unemployed. He was Chairman of the Local Government Committee of the Barking & Dagenham Labour Party, Deputy Leader of the Council from 1970 to 1986 and he was Leader of the Council in 1986 until his retirement in 1998.

Amongst his achievements during that period he was instrumental in promoting the development of what is now known as Barking Riverside as well as leading the campaign to underground the Channel Tunnel high speed rail link through the Borough. Mr Brooker was Mayor of Barking from 1975 to 1976, received the Freedom of the Borough in 1984 and the Freedom of the City of London. He was awarded an OBE in January 1995 in recognition of the eminent public service rendered by him over many years and accepted the title of Honorary Alderman in 2011.

George Brooker OBE passed away on 21 September 2011 following a long illness. His funeral took place at Eastbrookend Cemetery on 30 September 2011.

This collection arrived at the archive in no particular order. In turn the material has been arranged according to the activities of the creator, as well as format, chronology and the needs of users.

This material is open to research and can be viewed at the Barking and Dagenham Archive and Local Studies Centre. To make an appointment to visit the reading room, please telephone 020 8227 2033 or email at localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk.

Donated to the Barking and Dagenham Archive and Local Studies Centre in February 2012.

Catalogued by Clare Sexton, Assistant Archivist.

For further information about the contents of this collection, please contact the Barking and Dagenham Archive and Local Studies Centre by telephone 020 8227 2033 or email at localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk.

For further information about our reprographics and publication charges, please visit our website http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/MuseumsAndHeritage/BoroughArchivesandLocalStudies/Pages/Copyingandreproductionservices.aspx

Routine and duplicate material has been removed by the Assistant Archivist.

The acquisition of additional material is not expected.