Cllr Danny Cracknell

“He was the epitome of community involvement and engagement in the town and a model for all of us to follow.  He will be very greatly missed.”

Official notice of the Council’s Statement on Danny follows:

The Council sadly reports the passing of Councillor Danny Cracknell on 18th April 2008.

Danny was very much the public face of many events and activities in Ringwood and had been Mayor of the Town Council for a total of five years.

A Londoner by birth but evacuated to Ringwood in 1941 Ringwood became Danny’s adopted home. Danny had two favourite sayings -  my specialist subject is “Ringwood and its People” and “we must listen to the young : they are 25% of our present and 100% of our future. Nobody in the town worked more tirelessly or gave more outstanding service over a long period across several different areas of activity, latterly, displaying a courageous determination to continue this work despite failing health.

Danny was a founder member of The Ringwood Cheetahs, which was started in 1974 in an effort to provide an outlet for young people’s energy and, in particular, those who were not very interested in conventional sports.  The Cheetahs provided banger racing at a local venue for the young and often unruly elements of society.  Danny enthused the youngsters to involve themselves, not only in the driving, but also in the preparation of the vehicles and fundraising to support the sport.  He continued this work over a long period and the club is still running today.

Danny became a local Town Councillor in May 1987.  Since that time he particularly fought for the rights of young people.  He was an important major player in the provision of one of the first skate parks in the area and supported it ever since.  He continued to support the provision of additional sporting facilities within the town. He became a District Councillor in 1991.

 In 1997 he was the instigator of the Ringwood Festival and chaired the organising committee for ten years.  Due to his influence this event has grown from a small one-day event to a full week of a variety of events and activities for residents and visitors to the area.  One aspect of the Festival which has been particularly successful is a day when all local charities and good causes set up stalls in the Market Place to raise funds to help themselves. 

This has enabled the charities to regularly raise, collectively, well over £2,000 each year.

For the past sixteen years, Danny has work tirelessly collecting and distributing goods to the homeless each Christmas both locally and in Southampton, Portsmouth, Plymouth and London.

Danny was married to Diana for 48 years and had three children – Karen, Darryl and Miranda and six grandchildren.  His family was all important to him.

Another of Danny and Di’s innovative ways of raising money for charity was their amazing display of Christmas lights, not only on their house, but also on many others in their road.  Visiting the lights became a regular event each Christmas for many Ringwood families and those from further afield.

Biography

First elected to Ringwood Town Council in 1987

Vice-Chairman of the Council from 1993–1996

Chairman of the Council from 1996–1999

Elected as the first Town Mayor of the Council in 2000 which office he held until 2003

Stood down as Town Mayor in 2003 due to illness (throat cancer)

Re-elected Town Mayor – May 2005

Cllr Cracknell was also a New Forest District Councillor, having been first elected in 1991 and was only independent Member on that Council

Chairman of the town’s Festival Committee since it’s inception in 1997

Funeral Details

Danny's funeral will take place at the Parish Church of Ringwood in the Market Place, at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 29 April followed by cremation at Bournemouth.  There will be a get-together at Ringwood Conservative Club afterwards and everyone is welcome to attend the whole of this occasion.

If you are thinking to going to the funeral, Danny's family would prefer you to wear bright colours.  Family flowers only but donations to Salisbury Hospice Care Trust may be sent to Tapper Funeral Service, 29a Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1HB.

Cllr Brian Terry
Town Mayor
Ringwood Town Council
Greenways
71 Christchurch Road
Ringwood BH24 1QY
Email: town.council@ringwood.gov.uk