Tributes made to former Leamington mayor and Warwickshire County Council's first Indian councillor Mota Singh

Mota, a Labour Party member who was also a former Warwickshire County Councillor for the Brunswick Ward of Leamington, died of heart failure yesterday (Sunday, January 31).

He was 81.

The South Leamington Labour Voice Facebook Page has put up a post in tribute to him saying: "He will be sorely missed by his Labour family and the South Leamington community.

"He worked hard representing us for over two decades.

"He was always very supportive to fellow councillors, a real team player. Out and about with Mota, he knew everyone in the community and everyone knew and loved him.

"A lovely and gentle man who always had time to listen and showed great compassion for all of us. Rest in peace dear Mota.

"Thank you for your friendship and care.

"We will miss you.

"Love and empathy to his family at this very sad time."

The current Mayor of Leamington Cllr Susan Rasmussen and her fellow town councillors have said: “Mota Singh cared about all the residents that he served.

"As mayor, he represented all communities and was personally responsible for promoting the integration of different cultures and communities into the life of our town, and making sure their contribution was recognised.

“Mota was greatly respected by all of us who had the opportunity to work with him.

"He was an excellent public servant and will be greatly missed by everyone at the council."

Mota was born on February 23 1939 in the village of 17P.S. District Ganganagar, Rajasthan, in India.

He arrived in England on May 11 1963.

He worked at the Post Office in Priory Terrace as a postman and postman-driver for 28 years.

He was a Warwickshire county councillor for 26 years and became the authority’s first Indian member when he won the Brunswick Ward seat in 1985.

He remained a county councillor for 24 years

Mota, a father of three, retired as a county councillor in 2009 after his wife Surinder Mundy died.

On May 14 2004, Mota was sworn in as the Mayor of Leamington.

He said one of his proudest moments as mayor was when he travelled to Bo in Sierra Leone to sign the friendship link between the town and Leamington.

Mota was also a member of the Police Committee, which he served on for 21 years.

He retired from politics in April 2019 having represented the Labour Party on Leamington Town Council for 16 years.

On his retirement, Cllr Singh said: “I wish to thank my party, the Labour Party, for giving me this opportunity to serve the community first as a county councillor then as a town councillor.

“I feel proud that for 40 years I have delivered good service to my community as an elected councillor.

“Maybe now that I am older I cannot run with the same speed.

“But my service to the community will continue.”

Mota later focused his efforts as a member of the Buwan Kothi Trust UK, chair of trustees of the Buwan Kothi International Trust India, and chairman of the management committee of the Gilly Mundy Community School in Haryana, India.

Mota's son Gilly, whom the school was built in memory of, died unexpectedly in 2007 aged 36.

Gilly was a highly regarded campaigner and activist who said his inspiration for a lifetime of political activism including passionate opposition to racism and injustice came from his father.

He held many other roles in social services and education.

In addition to his council work, Mota also found time to be a governor of Campion School, Whitnash Nursery School, Shrubland Street School and Kingsway School.

He was a director of Regenesis and a trustee of the Sydni Centre and a non-executive director of Warwick Hospital.

Away from politics and public service Mota's other passion was for writing and Punjabi poetry.

He published several books of poems which were used in university teachings and wrote political articles for several newspapers in Northern India.

When he retired from politics, he said: “No matter how many ups and downs life deals out I can say I am still enjoying my life.”

Warwick and Leamington Labour MP Matt Western has said: "Mota was possibly the purest, most decent and gentle person I have ever met.

"He was selfless but determined and his work demonstrated his immense generosity of spirit and great public service.

"His passing is very hard for me to come to terms with.

But for the moment, I want simply to remember his enormous contribution to our community and his extraordinary 40 years as a local councillor.

"It is a simplistic measure of his service but that has few, if any, equals.

"My thoughts are very much with his family.”

For more information about Mota, visit https://leamingtonhistory.co.uk/mota-singh/