Councillor George Henry Haysum BEM JP Royal Air Force and Mayor of Sleaford
George Henry Haysum
The Man George Henry Haysum (Peter) was born on Sunday 10th August 1924 in Leominster, Herefordshire, son of Henry a Cowman and later farm Manager and Rosina nee Richards, he was an only child.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939. Peter was aged just 15, and too young to enlist, but may have served with one of the local civil defence organisations before joining the Royal Air Force on 8th March 1943 aged 18, with service number 1819508. He was described as 5’6” tall, religion Church of England and he began training as an Air Gunner but found to be colour blind and so re-mustered to the Catering section as a cook. He was later promoted to Corporal and served at home at the Empire Air Navigation School, RAF Shawbury and then RAF Cranwell in 1944. At the end of the war he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Peter remained in the RAF following the war and whilst at Cranwell met a local girl, Pauline Delores Beebe at the Red Lion in Westgate, they married in St Denys Church, Sleaford in 1947 and had one son, Stephen Michael born in 1950 - 2014. It was whilst at Cranwell that George was ‘rechristened’ as Peter – a Flight Sergeant who used everyone’s first name decided there were too many Georges and so called him Peter – the name stuck for the rest of his life. Peter was discharged from the RAF on 16th April 1947, re-enlisting the next day into the regular RAF with the same number and profession for a further three years. During this time he saw some service in the Middle East and upon his discharge on 17th April 1950 his RAF Character was given as Very Good with a Superior proficiency.
Peter’s discharge statement read:
“This NCO has been very good at his trade and has been a good NCO. He was a cook in civvy life and wishes to obtain a position at RAF Cranwell.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939. Peter was aged just 15, and too young to enlist, but may have served with one of the local civil defence organisations before joining the Royal Air Force on 8th March 1943 aged 18, with service number 1819508. He was described as 5’6” tall, religion Church of England and he began training as an Air Gunner but found to be colour blind and so re-mustered to the Catering section as a cook. He was later promoted to Corporal and served at home at the Empire Air Navigation School, RAF Shawbury and then RAF Cranwell in 1944. At the end of the war he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Peter remained in the RAF following the war and whilst at Cranwell met a local girl, Pauline Delores Beebe at the Red Lion in Westgate, they married in St Denys Church, Sleaford in 1947 and had one son, Stephen Michael born in 1950 - 2014. It was whilst at Cranwell that George was ‘rechristened’ as Peter – a Flight Sergeant who used everyone’s first name decided there were too many Georges and so called him Peter – the name stuck for the rest of his life. Peter was discharged from the RAF on 16th April 1947, re-enlisting the next day into the regular RAF with the same number and profession for a further three years. During this time he saw some service in the Middle East and upon his discharge on 17th April 1950 his RAF Character was given as Very Good with a Superior proficiency.
Peter’s discharge statement read:
“This NCO has been very good at his trade and has been a good NCO. He was a cook in civvy life and wishes to obtain a position at RAF Cranwell.
British Empire Medal. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45.
Peter remained in Sleaford with Pauline, making it his home and living in a Council House at 175 St Giles Avenue. He re-applied yet again to join the RAF in 1955 and it appears may have served for a further period of time, working as a Groundworker (a broad term encompassing various roles that support air operations and base functions on the ground, rather than in the air. These roles can be in areas like engineering, logistics, force protection, or support services), before joining the Post Office as a Postman in 1964 on leaving the RAF
Peter became Chairman of the Sleaford branch of the Union of Postal Workers and was fully involved in the 1971 postal strike, also known as the "Great Strike, this was a significant industrial action in the UK that occurred from January 20th to March 8th, 1971. It was the first national postal strike in Great Britain and was sparked by a dispute over pay rises and working conditions.
At the same time, his interest in politics having been sparked by his union work, Peter joined the local Labour Party and stood for election in the Sleaford West Ward, being unsuccessful but a year later in 1972 was elected as a Councillor, representing Sleaford North on the North Kesteven Rural District Council, this being amalgamated into North Kesteven District Council in the 1974 local government reorganization and also elected onto Sleaford Town Council, that came into being following the reorganization and represented Sleaford Holdingham, as well as being appointed a Justice of the Peace the same year.
He immersed himself fully in council business, sitting on numerous committees at District level and being elected Mayor of Sleaford on three occasions at Town level, on 4th May 1977-78 The Queen’s Silver Jubilee year, 8th May 1985-86 and 1994-95. It was during his second term of office that he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List 1985 for his services to the Post Office from which he had retired in 1984 - George Henry Haysum, lately Postman, Sleaford SSO, Grantham Head Office Area, Midlands Postal Board, The Post Office. The medal was presented to him as Mayor by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Captain Henry Nevile in June.
Peter also served as a Magistrate in the town and at the end of his final year as Mayor became the Chairman and Leader of North Kesteven District Council in May 1995, however this honour was short lived as he had to stand down and retire from the council in December after just seven months due to ill health. He was presented with a clock by his successor the following March but continued serving on the Town Council, briefly becoming Deputy Mayor in 1999 following an upset at the local elections. He was also re-elected onto the District Council in 1999 having recovered from his previous ill health.
Peter was described as a quiet man and small in stature, he enjoyed watching football and cricket and doing ballroom dancing. In later life he lived with Pauline at 12 Bishop’s Court, sadly she passed away 18th October 1998 aged 74 at Pilgrim Hospital and buried in Sleaford Cemetery
Peter continued his service on the Councils and in 2004 was re-elected onto the council and as an officer for the Sleaford Labour Party, now aged 80. He later lived at 5, All Saints Grove and remained in office winning the 2008, 2012 elections aged 88! However, he resigned from both councils in 2013 and moved into Holmby Care Home Navenby.
Peter passed away later the same year on 10th September 2013 aged 89 and was buried in Sleaford Cemetery, although in a separate grave to Pauline.
His testimony is the 41 years selfless service he gave to the people of Sleaford only ending his service when aged 89 a few months before his death.
Peter became Chairman of the Sleaford branch of the Union of Postal Workers and was fully involved in the 1971 postal strike, also known as the "Great Strike, this was a significant industrial action in the UK that occurred from January 20th to March 8th, 1971. It was the first national postal strike in Great Britain and was sparked by a dispute over pay rises and working conditions.
At the same time, his interest in politics having been sparked by his union work, Peter joined the local Labour Party and stood for election in the Sleaford West Ward, being unsuccessful but a year later in 1972 was elected as a Councillor, representing Sleaford North on the North Kesteven Rural District Council, this being amalgamated into North Kesteven District Council in the 1974 local government reorganization and also elected onto Sleaford Town Council, that came into being following the reorganization and represented Sleaford Holdingham, as well as being appointed a Justice of the Peace the same year.
He immersed himself fully in council business, sitting on numerous committees at District level and being elected Mayor of Sleaford on three occasions at Town level, on 4th May 1977-78 The Queen’s Silver Jubilee year, 8th May 1985-86 and 1994-95. It was during his second term of office that he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List 1985 for his services to the Post Office from which he had retired in 1984 - George Henry Haysum, lately Postman, Sleaford SSO, Grantham Head Office Area, Midlands Postal Board, The Post Office. The medal was presented to him as Mayor by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Captain Henry Nevile in June.
Peter also served as a Magistrate in the town and at the end of his final year as Mayor became the Chairman and Leader of North Kesteven District Council in May 1995, however this honour was short lived as he had to stand down and retire from the council in December after just seven months due to ill health. He was presented with a clock by his successor the following March but continued serving on the Town Council, briefly becoming Deputy Mayor in 1999 following an upset at the local elections. He was also re-elected onto the District Council in 1999 having recovered from his previous ill health.
Peter was described as a quiet man and small in stature, he enjoyed watching football and cricket and doing ballroom dancing. In later life he lived with Pauline at 12 Bishop’s Court, sadly she passed away 18th October 1998 aged 74 at Pilgrim Hospital and buried in Sleaford Cemetery
Peter continued his service on the Councils and in 2004 was re-elected onto the council and as an officer for the Sleaford Labour Party, now aged 80. He later lived at 5, All Saints Grove and remained in office winning the 2008, 2012 elections aged 88! However, he resigned from both councils in 2013 and moved into Holmby Care Home Navenby.
Peter passed away later the same year on 10th September 2013 aged 89 and was buried in Sleaford Cemetery, although in a separate grave to Pauline.
His testimony is the 41 years selfless service he gave to the people of Sleaford only ending his service when aged 89 a few months before his death.
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Past Mayor of Sleaford and Chairmen of North Kesteven District Council honour boards
The Story The medals awarded to George Henry (Peter) Haysum were acquired from E-Bay on 22nd April 2025 and of interest as he had been Mayor of Sleaford on three occasions, but specifically during the municipal year of 1977-78, a sub theme of this collection.
George went by the name of Peter and the newspaper archives held an immense amount of detail on him, too much to include in this research, but enabling a detailed biography to be put together.
Enquiries with North Kesteven District Council and Sleaford Town Council enabled a picture of the Past Chairmen and Mayors nameboards to be added to the research as well as a very high quality photograph of him as Chairman in 1995. The Town Council also confirming he would not have been presented with a Past Mayors Jewel on the occasions he was Mayor as this practice didn’t begin until some years after his last term of office.
A very pleasing addition to this collection and special thanks are extended to North Kesteven District Council and Sleaford Town Council for their help with the research.
George went by the name of Peter and the newspaper archives held an immense amount of detail on him, too much to include in this research, but enabling a detailed biography to be put together.
Enquiries with North Kesteven District Council and Sleaford Town Council enabled a picture of the Past Chairmen and Mayors nameboards to be added to the research as well as a very high quality photograph of him as Chairman in 1995. The Town Council also confirming he would not have been presented with a Past Mayors Jewel on the occasions he was Mayor as this practice didn’t begin until some years after his last term of office.
A very pleasing addition to this collection and special thanks are extended to North Kesteven District Council and Sleaford Town Council for their help with the research.
North Kesteven District Council Past Chairman's Jewel.
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Sleaford Standard. 28th June 1985
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Caricature from a local newspaper
Peter's grave at Sleaford Cemetery.
With special thanks to North Kesteven District Council and Sleaford Town Council for their support and assistance in preparing this biography.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- British Empire Medal: GEORGE HENRY HAYSUM
This page last updated 5 May 25
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