Civic chiefs in Cheltenham held a minute’s silence this week in honour of the late former MP Nigel Jones and ex-Gloucestershire County Council chairman Mike Skinner.
Lord Jones served as a MP from 1992 to 2005, and as a member of the House of Lords from 2005 until his death at the age of 74.
And Mike Skinner, a former Cheltenham councillor, was once Gloucestershire County Council chairman died at the age 88. Both men died last month.
Mayor Sandra Holliday (Non-aligned, St Marks) told the Cheltenham Borough Council meeting on December 12 that she had the pleasure of working alongside Mr Skinner who was the “most gentle soul” , a true gentleman and a dedicated and hard-working councillor.
Mayor Holliday said she was introduced to Lord Jones in the early 1990s and she remembers when he was first elected as MP.
She said Lord Jones worked extremely hard for Cheltenham and its residents. He was very popular and a genuinely nice friendly chap.
“I remember it so well, watching the declaration live on the TV with a load of others in The Bell the night he was elected. It was all very exciting, very noisy and a night to remember.”
“And as we know, he was a great supporter of Cheltenham Town, the Robins.
He was a true ambassador for our town and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”
Conservative group leader Tim Harman (C, Park) spoke of how he worked with the late Liberal Democrat MP and was at the count when he was elected.
Cllr Harman said he had a relatively good relationship with Lord Jones but he might have upset him once at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival.
“It was for the 150th birthday of WG Grace they organised a cricket match. The Borough MP dressed up as WG Grace with a great beard and I was on the committee and was dressed up as Cheltenham’s own Gilbert Jessop, who has the record for the fastest test century of all time.
“So I’m batting with the MP and I run him out on his birthday. Honestly, it wasn’t deliberate but I was slightly quicker between the timbers.”
Cllr Harman said it was all in good nature and always got on with him very well despite the political differences.
“I’m sorry for his passing. Our best wishes to his family,” he added.
Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) echoed what was said and explained that Lord Jones was a great friend.
She said: “Our children are all much the same age and I remember them getting up to all sorts in our house.
“They would come round for different fundraising events and I could never persuade Nigel that what he needed to do before he walked all over my carpet floor with his muddy shoes from the garden was please take them off.
“I’m not a ‘take your shoes off at the front door’ person, but Katy used to say to him, you need to take them off. But by then it was generally too late. But it’s been a tough time for the family and he will be sorely missed by all.”
And Cllr Wendy Flynn (G, Hesters Way), who was convinced by Lord Jones to stand as a Liberal Democrat councillor some 20 years ago, said he was so caring for everybody.
“He was such a good man and very much respected and I will miss his presence in the world. And Mike Skinner too, a lovely wonderful man who worked very hard fo his community. It’s very sad that both of them have gone.”
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter