Tributes after death of popular former Doncaster councillor and accountant

Tributes have been paid following the death of a long serving former Doncaster councillor who also enjoyed a career as a successful accountant and school governor.
Ian Prior has died at the age of 83 after a long career as a councillor, accountant and school governor.Ian Prior has died at the age of 83 after a long career as a councillor, accountant and school governor.
Ian Prior has died at the age of 83 after a long career as a councillor, accountant and school governor.

Ian Prior died earlier this month at his home in Bessacarr at the age of 83.

Mr Prior, a father of three, spent nearly thirty years as a councillor in Doncaster, carrying out the role alongside his work as an accountant.

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In a tribute, his son Alex described him as “a wonderful family man who will be missed by many in the local community.”

Born in Wheatley Hills in 1936, the only son of William and Amy Prior and younger brother to Maureen, he attended Doncaster Grammar School, leaving at 15 to join his father's recently established accountancy practice, W. H. Prior & Son Certified Accountants.

Ian grew the family practice with offices in Thorne and Doncaster town centre at Prince’s Street, moving to Avenue Road and later South Parade, before relocating to purpose built offices at Railway Court, off Ten Pound Walk, in 2002.

Ian worked with his father for many years and was then joined in the business by his nephew John Park in 1979, and then by his sons Alex and Nick in 1988 and 1997 respectively.

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Said Alex: “He treasured the relationship built up with his clients, often advising generation after generation.

"He advised many owner managed businesses, including a number of farmers and well established local family firms."

Mr Prior acted for some clients for more than 60 years, and only retired from the practice in 2018 aged 81.

He was chair of the Doncaster Young Conservatives in 1963 and was first elected a Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Councillor in 1966 to represent Wheatley ward.

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He moved to Bessacarr in 1969 and was elected councillor for Bessacarr in 1972 and continued to be elected to that role until May 1995.

He served as a councillor for 29 years in total and was leader of the opposition for many years.

He was instrumental in the decision to build The Dome and the developments around Gliwice Way and Lakeside.

He also served for many years on the Planning Committee, Education Committee and the Race Committee that had oversight of Doncaster Racecourse.

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Added Alex: “Throughout his time as a Conservative councillor, Ian’s political views were in the minority but his focus was on helping the residents of his ward as their Councillor and Doncaster residents and businesses generally.

"Over many years, he established good working relationships with many Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors to contribute to the development of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough.

“Ian will be missed by many in the local community.”

He was a governor of a number of primary schools over the years, including St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School and St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School. He was a governor of Catherine McAuley High School in the 1970’s and early 1980’s and became a governor of the newly merged school, The McAuley Catholic High School, in 1981.

He continued to serve as a Governor at McAuley School for 28 years.

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He was also a member of the Catenian Association and a parishioner at St Peter-in-Chains Catholic Church, Doncaster.

Said Alex: He was a wonderful family man.”

He married Virginia Pennington in June 1969 and they enjoyed 51 years of marriage. He was a much loved father of Alex, Nick and Francesca, father-in-law of Anne, Charlotte and Alex, and beloved grandfather of Beth, Adam, Otto, Max and Hugo, as well as a very dear brother in law and uncle.

A funeral service and Requiem Mass for Mr Prior, who died on October 3, will take place on October 13 at St Peter-in-Chains Roman Catholic Church, Doncaster at 12.30pmfollowed by interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Due to the current restrictions, attendance inside church is limited to 30 family members.

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