Derek Giles passed away at 4.10am this morning (Saturday) with his family around him, after a long battle with cancer.

Derek's wife Sandie announced the news earlier today. 

St Neots Councillor, Colin Maslen, who served alongside Derek, said: "God bless you Derek, you were an inspiration."

Stephen Ferguson, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council and former St Neots mayor, said today: "This is a sad loss to St Neots and the whole of Cambridgeshire. Derek was a predecessor of mine as chair of the county council and mayor of St Neots. 

"He was also an instigator of the independent movement that helped us take control of the county council and Huntingdonshire District Council. I am honoured to have followed in his footsteps. 

"Beyond that, Derek was a fair and impartial councillor who always voted with his conscience and in the interests of residents. 

"My deepest condolences to Sandie and the whole Giles family."

Councillor Michael Burke, chairman of Huntingdonshire District Council, added: "Such sad news to receive today. To have met Derek and his wife in July this year during a presentation to him becoming an honorary alderman of HDC it was so clear that he continued to have such a deep passion for local politics, his community and each and every person who he served. I’m sending my very best wishes to Derek’s family."

Daniel Laycock, a St Neots town councillor and leader of the Huntingdonshire Green Party, said: "It's a huge loss for St. Neots to lose a local political giant. Derek was an incredible public servant who helped so many residents for more than 30 years.

"The whole town sends our heartfelt thanks for what he did for his residents in the Eatons and the whole of St Neots. We send our condolences to his family at this difficult time. You’ll be greatly missed Derek."

St Neots mayor, Cllr Ben Pitt said: "It was a great honour to award Derek and Sandie Giles the Honorary Freedom of the Town of St Neots in July, in a ceremony that was attended by their family and friends.

"Derek has been a beacon of public service for 40 years, serving on town, district and county councils as well as countless community groups and campaigns.

"He inspired so many people to follow in his footsteps, and his warm-hearted approach never faltered. He showed good humour and humility, even in the face of his own mortality. He was a man who clearly loved St Neots. For so many of us, the feeling was mutual."

Derek and Sandie were awarded the Freedom of the Town of St Neots on July 23 this year.

In an emotional address, as he knew his cancer was now terminal, he told the gathered audience he was proud of what he described as his "long stint of public duty".

He was first elected in 1989 at a by-election when he became involved in the Defend Our Ouse Meadows, or DOOM as it was known, issue to save land from developers.

He served on all three tiers of local government and as mayor of St Neots for two terms.

Derek was elected to Huntingdonshire District Council in 1991 and served for a total of 27 years.

He served as deputy mayor of St Neots from 1994 - 1996 and then mayor from 1996 - 1998 and again from 2016 - 2018.

Derek served for nine years on Cambridgeshire County Council, retiring from the position of chair of the council in November 2021 due to ill health. He retired from SNTC and HDC in May 2022.

He was also a governor at Bushmead School, in Eaton Socon, and an Independent Board Member for the Prison Service at Littlehey for 12 years.

He was particulary proud of his involvement with the annual St Neots Golf Day, which had raised more than £120,000 for charity over the years and also his support for various local campaigns.

He and Sandie met and married in 1966 and moved to St Neots in 1971. They have three children and nine grandchildren. In the early years, they helped out with local youth clubs, and cubs groups. 

If you would like to pay tribute to Derek, email: Hunts Post Editor Debbie Davies at: debbie.davies@archant.co.uk