(RETIRED EAST MIDLANDS GAS BOARD OFFICIAL)
(530)
Born at Congleton, Cheshire on 4 February 1922 and educated at Beaumont College, Windsor, a Roman Catholic School run by Jesuit Priests and where his grandfather had been educated.
The family moved to Ireland in 1936 where his parents owned the Melrose Hotel at Ardmore, County Waterford.
Upon completing his education, he left school at 18 years of age and joined H.M. Forces in 1940 when he volunteered at Belfast, for the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers stationed at Omagh in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He was medically discharged from the army, following an illness, prior to the end of the Second World War and then worked in London for a short time.
He moved to Leicester after the War and joined the Conservative Party in 1945 becoming one of the first Young Conservatives. He quickly gained a reputation for his ability as a public speaker.
Having fought, unsuccessfully, Council elections in the North Braunstone Ward in 1952 and Abbey Ward in 1953 and 1954, Councillor Collis was first elected to the City Council in 1955 to represent the Humberstone Ward. He lost his seat in 1958 but was returned in 1961, again for the Humberstone Ward. Councillor Collis was unsuccessful in retaining the seat in 1964 and then returned to the City Council in 1968 as the representative of the Latimer Ward. He held the seat until 1971 and was then again elected to the City Council to represent the Humberstone Ward from 1976 to 1979 and once more in 1983. He contested no fewer than 16 Council elections. Councillor Collis never learned to drive and fought energetic campaigns from a bicycle festooned with placards. Traditionally, he commenced his electioneering on St Patrick’s Day (17th March).
Councillor Collis served on a large number of the Council’s Committees including the Children’s, Civil Defence, Environmental Health and Public Control, Estates, Housing, Museums and Libraries, Public Works and the Parks Committee and the Traffic and Transport Committee both of which he was the Vice-Chairman.
Councillor Collis had a wide range of interests. He was the Chairman of the National Viewers and Listeners Association. Locally, he was a Governor of St Joseph’s, St Paul’s and the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Schools. He served on the committee of the Life Care and Housing Trust and on the management committee of the Netherhall Neighbourhood Centre. Councillor Collis was also the Chairman of the Leicester Anglo-Ukrainian Society.
Councillor Collis, who was a deeply religious man and a devout Roman Catholic, was an active member of the congregation of the Holy Cross Priory in New Walk. He was a descendant of St Oliver Plunket, the Bishop of Armagh, who was executed on 1 July 1681, a victim of the Titus Oates Plot.
He was appointed High Bailiff of the City on 21 May 1987 for the year 1987-88.
Councillor Collis was elected to the office of Lord Mayor of the City on 19 May 1988.
He chose his niece and god-daughter, Miss Tricia Collis to be his Lady Mayoress. She was a Legal Secretary to a Leicester Solicitor. At the age of 22 years, Miss Collis became the youngest person to hold the position of Lady Mayoress of the City of Leicester.
During his Year of Office, Councillor Collis greeted Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester on 5 October 1988 when she attended the 475th Anniversary of the founding of Wyggeston’s Hospital.
Twinning links continued throughout the Mayoral year with Civic Visits by Councillor Collis to the twin cities of Strasbourg on August 1988 and Krefeld in September of the same year.
Visits to Leicester by overseas dignitaries featured highly in Councillor Collis’ Year of Office. On 13 June 1988, the Lord Mayor hosted a Civic Luncheon in honour of the visiting Mayor of Chongqing, and a delegation from the Chinese city.
On 26 September 1988 the ‘Strasbourg in Leicester’ Week commenced and groups of citizens from the twin French city attended various exhibitions and events during their stay in Leicester. A Civic Luncheon was given by the Lord Mayor, on behalf of the City, for the visitors.
The City’s links with the various Army regiments were maintained. In June 1988, the Lord Mayor attended the Freedom of the City Parade in Londonderry, an event to honour the 9th/12th Royal Lancers. He proudly watched as 200 personnel of the Regiment, representing various East Midlands cities, marched through the ancient City. Councillor Collis made the traditional visit to the 16th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals in Germany. He also visited the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian
Regiment on duty in Belfast, a city where he had also served during the War.
Councillor Collis was privileged to receive the Most Reverend Archbishop Luigi Barbarito, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Great Britain, upon his visit to the City on 12 June 1988. The Lord Mayor gave a Civic Reception for the Archbishop at the Town Hall, and afterwards attended a Concelebrated Mass in the grounds of Quenby Hall, Leicestershire. The following month the Lord Mayor attended the world Jain Conference which was held in Leicester.
The year was notable for anniversaries. Councillor Collis took part in the 800th Anniversary Celebrations of the City of London in November 1988. He also held Receptions to mark the Golden Jubilees of the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and the British Red Cross Society.
Councillor Collis’ Appeal was for the Neighbourhood Care Work for Age Concern, Leicester. The total amount realised by the Appeal was £41,683.
Councillor Collis’ Year of Office was concluded on 18 May 1989 whereupon he was appointed Deputy Lord Mayor for the year 1989-90.
He died in Leicester on 25 April 1991, aged 69 years.
