Tribute to Whitnash councillor and businessman George Nayar

And to his family he was ‘the best father anyone could wish for’.

Mr Nayar, known by many as George but born Girdhari Lal Nayar, was known for his years of work as a Whitnash town councillor up until last year and a Warwickshire Magistrate for several years from 1981.

He died aged 84 on May 28 and leaves his wife Jean, five children, six grand children and two great grandchildren.

It was through his work as a magistrate and councillor that Mr Nayar became much liked, loved and respected.

His daughter Anil said: “He was known as a true gentlemen and one of the fairest men you’d meet.

“His family meant the world to him and he was one in a million - the best father anyone could wish for.

“Other people just knew him as ‘George from the chippy’.

“He was such a positive person and was really dedicated to my mum - everybody loved him.”

Mr Nayar was born in India and was among the first Asian men to move to Leamington when he came to England in 1955.

By 1961 he became the first non-white man in the history of Midland Red buses to be promoted to the role of ticket inspector - quite an achievement considering the attitude of some towards other races and cultures at the time.

Not long after this he established himself as a successful businessman, owning a fish mongers and grocery shop in High Street, a fish and chip shop in Kennedy Square, Aylesford Fisheries in 1965 and later Garibaldi in Old Town, which was later renamed Nayar’s Fish Restaurant.

Retiring from owning businesses such as these, Mr Nayar set himself up as the driver for the single-car taxi firm called Garibaldi Cabs some time between the mid-1990s and 2000.

It was through this business and the tours he would offer in his cab to those new to the town that he was once named Tourism Personality of the Year for Leamington.

He also a member of Warwickshire’s Crime Prevention Committee and is still the registered owner of land off Golf Lane, Whitnash, where he used to keep sheep but is now used for horses to graze.

Cllr Judy Falp, a fellow Whitnash town councillor and friend of Mr Nayar, said: “I knew of George when I was growing up, both on the buses and when he ran his fish and chip shop.

“I was delighted when Cllr Bernard Kirton years later suggested George as an ex-magistrate and businessman be put forward to represent the Whitnash Residents Association as

a Town Councillor.

“George was a quiet man but always attended meetings.

“It was very rare his missed one until his health started to fail.

“He gave the thoughts and views of his community on issues.

“He was a true gentleman, a family man, a person I came to know well.

“He supported me and what I was trying to achieve for Whitnash and I admired greatly what he had achieved in his life since coming to this country.”

“I shall miss him.”

Mr Nayar’s funeral will take place at Oakley Wood Crematorium on Monday June 20 at 10.45am and will be followed by a celebration of his life at the Shree Khrishna Temple in High Street, Leamington.