News & Events

Chris Jackson and Easingwold Town Council

Chris (Jacko) Jackson

1947 – 2024

Former Easingwold Town Councillor and Co-Opted Committee Member Christopher Melville Jackson (hereafter known as Jacko) led many public works on behalf of Easingwold Town Council. Using his skills, knowledge, and equipment Jacko and his volunteer ‘army’ installed, improved, and maintained multiple public facilities in and around Easingwold. They made facilities possible that could never have been awarded or achieved by any other means.

Jacko was a ‘true Yorkie’, that is, he was born within the Bar Walls. However, he escaped to Easingwold when he was only one, and here he stayed for the rest of his life. Jacko began working with and volunteering for the 2011 – 2015 Easingwold Town Council. In 2015 he stood for election to the next
Council, becoming a town councillor until 2019. When Jacko stopped as an elected councillor, he remained co-opted to the Operations and Recreation & Open Spaces Committees throughout the 2019-2022 Council and the current 2022-2027 Council.

In that time there is little that the Town Council has done or achieved that hasn’t been touched in one way or another by Jacko’s hand. Or rather the Jackos hands as, throughout his activities and volunteering, his wife Jane was never far away nor any less active. What has been achieved by them is much appreciated.
In summary some of the highlights of what has been delivered under Jacko’s guidance includes:

  • Millfields Park – creating the Jacko’s Way, Permissive Route, Wetlands Boardwalk, Friendship Garden, Skatepark, Exercise Equipment, Bike Track, and Jogging Track. Without this work the Easingwold Park Run’s foundation and success would have been unutterably harder.
  • Town Drainage and Flooding – Jacko led teams that worked with NYC and Yorkshire Water to identify ways in which flooding could be reduced and the drainage improved.
  • Public Conveniences – Jacko was instrumental firstly in the maintenance of the town centre public conveniences. When repair was no longer possible, he led the projects for their full refurbishment.
  • Open Spaces & Roads – Jacko was involved in all our open spaces and along many of our roads. The Memorial Park, Chase Garth Park, and the Greens all received his ministrations. The Jackos led the
    project to plant welcoming spring daffodil beds in the grass verges as you enter the town.
  • Markets – Our markets would not be the same without Jacko’s support, his work on their stalls, and their storage.
  • Christmas Festivities – Jacko led the team that put up, took down and stored the Christmas lights and decorations.

Even Jacko’s health traumas of his last years could not diminish him, and in his indefatigable way, he was still directing Millfields operations from his wheelchair. Whether that was clearing the permissive route, re-dusting Jacko’s Way, or preparing the route for the Park Run.

Easingwold Town Council is grateful for all Jacko did for them and the town. They are deeply saddened by his passing and are proud to have known and worked with him.