Ill health forces politician out

One of the city's best-known local body politicians is calling it quits.

Age and ill health have caught up with Bob Todd OBE but not before he served nearly 18 years on the Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board, 15 of those as chairman.

Mr Todd, 77, was resting at home last week, after receiving treatment for blood clotting. He stood down as chairman two weeks ago.

"I felt it was in the best interests of myself and the board to relinquish the position of chairman," said Mr Todd.

"Towards the beginning of February I was having trouble breathing, so I went to the doctor who referred me to a specialist and it was straight into hospital," he said.

He said the words of the cardiologist still ring in his ears.

"He said I was very lucky and I should take a Lotto ticket," he said.

He hopes to return to his duties as a community board member soon, but will not seek another term, which he admits will be difficult.

"After 15 years as chairman it is a bit of wrench but health has to come first," he said.

Not getting an aquatic facility for Linwood was his only regret from his service.

"After 10 years of lobbying for an aquatic facility in Linwood we still do not have one here and that is a disappointment. I failed badly there," he said.

But he said he would continue to look at the positives.

"There have just been so many, I think I should take a broad view that helping to make the community a better place to live has been the highlight," he said.

Mr Todd is also well known for his work with The Canterbury Community Trust, serving 20 years on the board and five as chairman.

Newly elected chairwoman, Islay McLeod said Mr Todd's experience from The Canterbury Community Trust was just one of the reasons filling his shoes would be "impossible".

"Bob is one of those very rare people who have been around long enough to take on the good bits and drop the bad bits.

"His experience in other areas in the community, especially from being on The Canterbury Community Trust board, has made it totally impossible to replace his breadth of experience."