Plaque honours former Sheffield Council Leader credited with creating Heart of the City and Supertram

Former Sheffield Council Leader Mike Bower died on April 1, 2020 during the height of the Covid pandemic.

His family were unable to hold a proper funeral due to lockdown restrictions but have since held a memorial and there is now a plaque in the Peace Gardens recognising his work for the city.

Mike was first elected in 1972 and served for 26 years, the last six of which were as Leader.

During the 1990s he helped bring about huge changes to both the city centre and its east end.

He was the driving force behind the Heart of the City, bringing together the Winter Gardens, Millennium Gallery and Peace Gardens, and was also involved in the inception of Supertram.

On the two year anniversary of his death, his wife Frances Homewood says she is pleased his lifetime work has been recognised.

“The original Heart of the City would not have happened without Mike, without his vision it would not have been developed.

“I felt he never had the recognition or acknowledgement during his lifetime but Sheffield would not have had the Peace Gardens or Supertram without him.

“They were unpopular decisions at the time as people couldn’t see his vision but they changed the city for the better. I wanted Mike to get the credit for all he did for Sheffield.”

One of his landmark achievements was the restoration of Aizlewood’s Mill, on Nursery Street, which the council famously bought for £1.

In the early 1980s, the historic building was a derelict eyesore threatened with demolition. Mike saw its potential and fought a battle to convert it into offices for the benefit of cooperatively owned organisations and small business, attracting millions of pounds of European grants and English Heritage to complete the work.

Former council chief executive Bob Kerslake, Coun Cate McDonald, Coun Peter Price, former MP Richard Caborn and former councillor Joan Barton were among those who attended the memorial.

Mike was 77 when he died and had been suffering from dementia. He leaves two daughters, Sarah and Rachel, and two grandchildren.