The two Sheffield councillors who have clocked up almost 70 years' service together

Coun Andrew Sangar has clocked up 30 years on Sheffield Council while it’s an incredible 39 years for Coun Tony Damms.

Liberal Democrat Andy, 54, started as a councillor in Beauchief then moved to Fulwood ward, where he lives.

Bitten by the politics bug while at Sheffield University, he decided to put his interest to a practical use in the community and joined the council.

“When I was elected, everything was handwritten from dictaphones. There were lots of secretaries typing up memos and reports and it just changed so much when emails were introduced, councillors had to do everything themselves then.

“The other big change was with officers as in those days they were in post for a long time and most of them had only worked in Sheffield so the real change came in the late 1990s when a new set of managers came in.

“That really opened up the council and was very helpful. There was a realisation that it’s important to nurture talent amongst officers locally but it’s equally important to bring in a fresh pair of eyes every now and again. Getting that balance right was good and has made it much better,” said Andy.

He remembers the days when the council was a mighty organisation with direct influence over every aspect of our lives including gas and water supplies, buses and museums.

The environment has been a key issue for him – he was campaigning about climate change when it was still called global warming – and education is also a passion.

“It’s something I’ve followed through from quite an early time, trying to raise aspirations of all families so that every child and young person gets opportunities in life, so education has been a big driver.

“I remember when the six colleges were all part of the council and Sheffield Hallam was changing from a polytechnic to a university. That’s been a big change for Sheffield, just how big the universities have become.

“They’re both more than twice the size of what they were when I was elected and it’s changed them for the better. Sheffield is an outward looking place with lots of bright young people and it’s a chance for the city to sell itself while they are here.”

He also gives pensions an honorary mention laughing: “There’s one officer who’s been there 20 years plus and I have been there 14 years and that’s it. Everybody else has only been there three or four years so we are the institutional memory on the pensions committee!”

Labour councillor Tony Damms, aged 72, was first elected for Burngreave then later moved to Southey, where he lives.

He became involved in a tenants group which led him to joining the Labour Party. He laughs: “I’ve always been a bit mouthy and someone said you need to try and change some of the stuff that’s happening so I decided to get involved rather than just sitting in the pub complaining about everything.

“I enjoyed being a councillor for Burngreave as it was very diverse but I’m equally happy in Southey as it’s the ward I was born in.

“I did have a problem once though when I had some cards printed saying I was the councillor for Southey Green but when I handed them out at a conference, people thought I was a member of the Green Party.”

He also remembers the days before email and mobiles. “You got a pad that was about six inches long and four inches across and it was divided in half. You’d write the name of the person, their address and what the problem was on the first half of the page then put it in the internal post.

“It was then given to an officer and they would write a reply on the other half of the page and send it back.

“The issues have changed too, when I first got elected housing was easier as there was less homelessness. Most people could buy a house as they had a good well paying job but when people lost their jobs in the 1980s, that put a big demand on council properties.

“There was rate capping in 1984 which was difficult and when the jobs went, apprenticeships went. When those went, kids thought what’s the point of working hard at school when there’s no jobs. It was a bad time but we have moved on since then.”

Both say anyone who is considering standing for election should go for it. Andy is keen to see more candidates from diverse backgrounds and younger people while Tony says the role has something to offer everyone.

“It can be very rewarding and to be honest, it’s been very good for my own personal development, it’s helped me an awful lot.

“You can spend hours sitting on committees in the Town Hall and I personally find that a bit wearing, I enjoy the casework and getting involved, but some people prefer the meetings and decision-making.

“The lows can be walking around with a bag full of leaflets when it’s pouring down but overall I’ve found it really enjoyable and I don’t dislike any of it.”

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