News / Politics
Three-time lord mayor Peter Abraham dies
One of the leading political figures in Bristol over the last few decades has died at the age of 84.
Peter Abraham was first elected as a Conservative Party councillor in 1966 and left Bristol City Council in May 2021 having served as lord mayor three times.
He first represented Stockwood, spent eight years on Avon County Council before it was disbanded and then was councillor for Stoke Bishop ward before he retired from frontline politics in 2021.
During his half-centry in local politics, Abraham served on almost every council committee, decision-making body and outside body including licensing, development control, public rights of way, Avon Fire Authority, Avon & Somerset Police Panel and the Downs Committee.
He also served as council deputy leader and cabinet member for education & lifelong learning; and as lord mayor, he instigated the first lord mayor’s charity dinner which remains as an annual fundraiser for underprivileged children.
Away from politics, Abraham was a successful businessman whose private life took a tragic turn in 2009 when his son, Nicholas, was killed while riding his bike on the Portway.
Abraham became an honorary alderman in June 2021. He had been Bristol’s longest serving councillor but it is thought he was deselected by the Tories ahead of the postponed local elections in 2020.
His alderman nomination praised him as being involved “with public service for virtually all his adult life”.
Abraham was married to Pearl, and in his spare time enjoyed travelling and going to the theatre; also previously serving as a board member of the Bristol Old Vic and a director of the Bristol Cultural Partnership.
Main photo: Connecting Bristol
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