Tributes on death of long-serving councillor

Tributes have been paid to a long-serving Shropshire councillor who died last week, aged 91.

Brian Williams was "a dedicated and hard-working" councillor for six decades, who only stepped down earlier this year, Shropshire Council said.

He was first elected as a councillor in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, in 1960.

"Brian leaves behind a legacy of public service and kindness, and dedication to the people of Shropshire. He will be greatly missed," said council leader Heather Kidd.

Mr Williams lived in the Manchester area until he retired and moved to Shropshire in 1999.

He served as a councillor on North Shropshire District Council from 2003 to 2009, and the former Shropshire County Council between 2005 and 2009.

Then elected to the new unitary authority, he represented The Meres ward. He also served as speaker at the former county council from 2008 to 2009, and on Shropshire Council until 2017.

The Conservative was vice-chair of the authority for five years before he stepped down at the elections in May.

Kidd said: "He was a dedicated and hard-working councillor who provided excellent and unstinting service to the council and the people of Shropshire for many years, only standing down this year at the age of 90.

"His remarkable dedication to public service spanned more than six decades and his service to each council, and to the people he represented over many years, was unwavering."

A former civil engineer, Mr Walker also represented the authority on the Melverley Internal Drainage Board, and was a trustee of the Montgomery Canal Restoration Trust and the Walker Trust.

In 2024 he was elected to the national Council of the Canal & River Trust.

A widower, he had three married children and five grandchildren.

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