Former Ashford Borough Leader Gerry Clarkson CBE

Former Councillor and Leader of Ashford Borough Council, Gerry Clarkson passed away yesterday morning (19 January, 2026) after a short illness.

Cllr Clarkson served as a Borough Council Member from 2006 to 2023, representing the Charing Ward. He was Leader of the Council from 2013 to 2023 and was awarded Honorary Ambassador of Ashford in April 2023, appointed as an Honorary Alderman in October 2023, and granted the Freedom of the Borough for his services to the borough in April 2024.

In May 2023 Cllr Clarkson stepped down as Leader of Ashford Borough Council having spent over 17 years with the authority and a decade as Leader.

After a 30-year career in the UK Fire Service, Gerry spent a further eight years as an Independent Member of the Kent Police Authority. With a total of some 55 years of public service, it is fair to say he has certainly left his mark, especially on Ashford. 

During his time in office Gerry demonstrated his passion for Ashford by championing our borough at every opportunity – be that with peers, businesses, potential investors, Central Government and anyone else who would listen!

This was all during a decade of much development throughout the borough. In his Honorary Ambassador of Ashford Award citation, it states that that Gerry helped bring a greater civic pride to the borough and a greater appreciation of its history and rich heritage.

The awarding of the Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour a Borough Council is able to grant and is a relatively rare occurrence. He was granted his award in 2023 for his “significant and eminent services rendered to the borough”.

Tributes

Cllr Noel Ovenden, current Leader of Ashford Borough Council led the tributes. "Gerry was an inspiring Leader, determined and focused to do the right thing for the residents of the borough. He led the council with confidence during a period of real challenge and change.

"I valued his support, his honesty and his ability to draw people together. Qualities that earned respect beyond party lines. Gerry’s “shoes” were huge. Ones I could only aspire to wear and never completely fill. A truly great man who I will remember with gratitude and genuine affection."

Chief Executive Tracey Kerly said: “The most amazing man. Gerry was a very special Leader that set the vision for Ashford and then didn’t stop, and we just kept on delivering. It felt like every day he wanted us to do something different and to always be the best. I personally found him to be a wonderful human being, that supported me as a new female Chief Executive.

“I learnt so much from Gerry and he will be a real loss in my life. He shared so many stories with me and my team; he lived his life to the full and always happy to share his experiences. Gerry and I worked closely together for 12 years, and we supported the organisation to find solutions to any issues we faced, including challenges like the pandemic. He understood fully the running of a public sector organisation and appreciated the value of the staff to ensure success of all our goals. I will miss him dearly.”

Former Ashford MP Damian Green said: “Gerry will be hugely missed by so many people. A great friend, a great family man and a great servant to Ashford over many years. His dynamism as Leader of the Council was unequalled and created some real long-lasting achievements for all of us who live in the borough.”

Ashford Borough Council Conservative Group Leader Johnny Shilton said: "On behalf of everyone in the Ashford Borough Council Conservative Group, which Gerry ably led for many years, I would like to extend our condolences to his family. We are all thinking of them at this incredibly difficult time. He will be greatly missed by us all."