John Mills 

COUNCIL chiefs are discussing ways in which John Mills – the businessman and councillor – may be given a lasting honour in Camden.

Former colleagues believe his legacy of buying up homes to be used as council flats in the 1970s should be acknowledged and options include naming a public building after him.

Technically, he could also be given the rare honour of being made an honorary alderman of the borough posthumously.

Mr Mills died in April aged 86 – having spent nearly 35 years in the Town Hall chamber.

Outside of Camden, he is perhaps best known for running the JML business empire, with quirky products showcased on screens in Robert Dyas stores and on TV shopping channels, and his large financial donations to the Labour Party.

Camden’s longest-serving councillor Julian Fulbrook paid tribute to him at last week’s all-member meeting, calling him a “dedicated public servant” who had “left an incredible mark on the borough’s housing policies.”

But he also shared some of the more offbeat anecdotes from Mr Mills’ life.

“Those who were at his funeral will have heard some colourful stories about John,” he said.

“How, for example, as an undergraduate he chartered a whole airplane, filled it with fellow students, and made a profit.

“And then on another occasion, he hitchhiked all the way to South Africa wearing a collar and tie and carrying just a little briefcase.”

Labour councillor Julian Fulbrook

Cllr Fulbrook, who is hoping to extend his own long service at the council when he stands again in Holborn and Covent Garden ward next May, said that Mr Mills’ business success had allowed him “to achieve his longtime passion to qualify late in life as a jet pilot”.

There had been “plenty of arguments, particularly about Europe because he was a maniac Brexiteer,” said Cllr Fulbrook.

“But he always treated you with respect, and he was incredibly hard working. I remember leaving the council on a Thursday night, and he told me pretty late he was heading for Heathrow Airport to get a flight to Hong Kong.

“This was at the time when John had cornered the market in Britain for the sale of woks – Chinese woks, the stir fry pan.

“I reminded him gently that we had a Labour group meeting on Monday night. He said: Don’t worry, I’m only going there, signing a contract and flying straight back.

“He had a madcap lifestyle, but he was a devoted public servant in Camden.”

Mr Mills is seen by older Labour members as one of the few genuine ‘legacy’ councillors whose work and results are still helping people in the borough today.

Cllr Fulbrook said he would always be remembered for buying up a “swathe of housing across Camden, quite a bit of it dilapidated and in private hands, to refurbish it and make it fit for people to live in.”

He told councillors: “The last time I saw John was at the opening of the Frank Dobson Court along with Frank Dobson and of course, he was thrilled at our Community Investment Programme, which has been iconic across many other boroughs but was invented in Camden.

“It was one of the legacy elements of John Mills’ view of housing for the public and also the finance to support it.”

Several former councillors have buildings named after them including the late Tessa Jowell – Mr Mills’ sister-in-law – who is remembered at the Tessa Jowell Court flats in Somers Town.