Herefordshire writer Matthew Engel's election win tinged with sadness

Matthew Engel held the largely rural Golden Valley South in the southwest of the county for the Independents for Herefordshire (i4H) on a 34 per cent turnout last Thursday (October 26).

The vacancy arose following the death of previous incumbent Coun Peter Jinman, a well-respected local figure both locally and nationally as a leading light of the veterinary medicine profession.

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Coun Jinman sadly passed away just three weeks after holding the seat in May’s local elections, following a relapse of a previous condition.

A byelection was then called for early September. But just ten days before the poll, the i4H candidate Toby Murcott, a journalist, teacher and science broadcaster, died suddenly.

Coun Peter Jinman and i4H candidate Toby Murcott, who both passed away this year (Image: supplied)

Coun Engel paid tribute to both men, saying Mr Murcott, a near neighbour, was “a lovely man, an excellent parish councillor and expert on broadband issues that are such an issue here”.

He also earlier penned an obituary of Peter Jinman for The Guardian, calling his predecessor “irreplaceable”.

I4H group leader Coun Liz Harvey added: “We continue to send our sympathies and best wishes to both families and thank them for their strong support of Matthew, despite their own deep losses.”

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The 72-year-old Coun Engel has lived in the scenic border area for the last 32 years, though his first taste of local government came as a local journalist in Northamptonshire, before working for many years for The Guardian and the Financial Times.

He has also written numerous books and edited the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, the sport’s bible, for 12 years.

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His election win, with more than twice the tally of his nearest, Conservative contender, was helped by the other four candidates “having little or no connection with the Golden Valley”.

“Voters wanted someone with an understanding and empathy for the area,” he said, adding: “The issues here are all around connectivity – broadband, land lines, roads and of course rail.”

The proposed reopening of Pontrilas station within the ward emerged as “the key doorstep issue, with no one against it” – contrasting with the Conservatives’ “ambivalence” on the idea, Coun Engel said.