The Municipal Offices fell silent for a minute today (May 12) in honour of a much-loved, honest and decent former councillor Malcolm Stennett.
The former Cheltenham Borough Councillor died on March 28 at the age of 86.
Mayor David Willingham (LD, St Peters) told the annual council meeting that Malcolm represented Prestbury from 2000 to 2021.
He invited councillors to share their memories of him and hold a minute’s silence.
Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) said she was lucky to serve with him, who was a very decent and honest man.
She told the council she attended his funeral which took place at Cheltenham Crematorium on April 28. It was a “very nice, pleasant celebration of a life well lived with community at the heart”, Cllr Hay said.
“He was a very long serving councillor for Prestbury and he was also an honorary alderman here,” she said.
“Malcolm was a well-known figure and often seen in Pittville Park with his wife and beloved four legged friends,” she said.
Councillor Stan Smith, (People Against Bureaucracy, Prestbury) said he worked with Malcolm through engineering at Dowty.
“I met him a few times,” he said.
“Had a few good laughs. Put me straight on a good few things with what he did.
“But he was always a gentleman. Always the person you could go and talk to and get a sensible answer without any quibble on what you were doing or who you were.
“He had a lot of respect and a lot of people respected him too.”
“The thing that got me most of all when I heard about his death.
“There were two ambulances, a quick response car and three police cars outside his house when they went there.
“The first medic that got there said, how’s the dog?
“I think Malcolm would have really appreciated that because of his dogs. I have some sweet and lovely memories of Malcolm.”
All those present in the council chamber observed a minute’s silence after the tributes.
Cllr Hay also told the meeting the council sends its condolences to honorary freeman Les Bonney.
“Sadly he lost his wife Beryl recently. This council sends its condolences to him and his family.”