TRAGEDY: Havant's FIRST Ever Council Leader Dies After Being Hit By Car While Cycling At 85

THE man who made history as the first-ever leader of Havant Borough Council has died after a tragic accident on one of the area's most iconic routes — the bridge connecting the mainland to Hayling Island.

Jim Phillips, 85, was cycling across Langstone Bridge on April 9th when he came off his bike and was struck by a red Ford Fiesta. He died in hospital a short time later, leaving behind a legacy that stretches back to the very founding of local government in our area.

A Pioneer Of Local Democracy

When Havant Borough Council was formed in 1974 as part of a major reorganisation of local government, someone had to take the reins. That someone was Jim Phillips — and the responsibility clearly suited him.

Being the first leader of any organisation is no small feat. There's no rulebook, no precedent to follow, no former leader to call for advice. You're building the plane while flying it. For the communities of Havant, Waterlooville, Emsworth, and Hayling Island, Jim Phillips was the man who set the course.

Now, more than fifty years later, his name will forever be etched into the foundation stones of local democracy in this corner of Hampshire.

A Life Of Many Chapters

Politics was just one chapter in a remarkably varied life. Jim Phillips was, at different times, an electrical engineer, a lecturer at Highbury College, and finally a teacher working with children with special educational needs.

That final career choice tells you something about the man. After decades of professional success, he could have chosen an easier path for his later working years. Instead, he chose to spend his time helping young people who needed it most.

Outside of work, he was a keen cricketer with Langstone Cricket Club, eventually becoming a qualified umpire. The combination of sporting prowess and knowledge of the rules seems fitting for a man who helped write the rulebook for local government.

'Still Very Strong At 85'

In a tribute released through Hampshire Police, Jim's family painted a picture of a man who refused to slow down.

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He will be terribly missed by his partner Valerie — and not just because he did all the cooking! — but in every way that matters.

That detail about the cooking speaks volumes. Here was an 85-year-old man still cycling across bridges, still looking after his partner, still very much living life on his own terms.

The family also mentioned his 'loved daughter, Alison' and his 'spoiled cat, Bella' — the small details that transform a public figure into a real person.

Tragedy On The Bridge

The accident happened at around 12:30 on Wednesday, April 9th. According to police, Jim came off his bicycle on Langstone Bridge and was then struck by a red Ford Fiesta.

Langstone Bridge is the main road connection between the mainland and Hayling Island, carrying thousands of vehicles and cyclists every day. The single road in and out of Hayling has long been a source of debate among locals, but for Jim Phillips, it was simply the route he was cycling that day.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to come forward. The investigation into exactly what happened continues.

End Of An Era

Jim Phillips's death comes at an ironic time. Havant Borough Council, the authority he helped create more than fifty years ago, is itself facing extinction under government reorganisation plans.

Under proposals confirmed earlier this year, Havant will be merged with Portsmouth, Gosport, and Fareham to create a new 'South East' super-council. The independent borough that Jim Phillips first led will cease to exist.

Whether he would have approved of the changes, we'll never know. But the timing feels significant — the first leader of Havant Borough Council passing away just as the council he built begins its final chapter.

A Legacy That Endures

Jim Phillips may not be a household name beyond the local area, but his impact on daily life here cannot be overstated. Every planning decision, every bin collection, every local service that Havant Borough Council has delivered over the past five decades traces back to the foundations he helped lay.

He was 85 years old, still cycling, still cooking for his partner, still living life fully. By any measure, that's a life well lived.

Anyone with information about the collision on Langstone Bridge should contact Hampshire Police on 101, quoting reference 44250112099.

Rest in peace, Jim Phillips. Havant owes you more than it knows.