My good friend Paul Hannon, who has died of prostate most cancers aged 70, had A unprecedented doc of public service extending over 4 many years. First elected to Berkshire county council Inside the early Nineteen Eighties, he went on To steer Newbury district council Inside the 90s, turned chair of planning at Newport metropolis council in south Wales after his election in 2012, and in his retirement served first on Manorbier group council in Pembrokeshire After which on Fakenham metropolis council in Norfolk.
Paul was born in Dublin to Michael Hannon, a french polisher, and Ivah (nee Hiscock), a clerical assistant. He went to St Joseph’s RC School in Croydon, Surrey, the place he developed a profound however sensible Roman Catholic religion that remained with him for The The rest of his life. For a time he studied to be a vet On the Royal Veterinary School in London, however left with out graduating to take up a job as a enchancment officer with the anti-poverty charity Wrestle on Want.
Later he went on to be director of the British Affiliation for the Exhausting of Listening to, chief authorities of the Blue Cross animal welfare charity and worldwide officer On the RSPB, earlier than in his later years working as a political and planning advisor with Pretty a Little bit of consultancies.
Paul was A properly-appreciated decide the placever he went; his wit, allure, diplomacy and sharp intelligence helped to defuse tensions and obtain options. In politics he had started out with the Youthful Liberals Inside the early 70s as editor of The novel journal Liberator. A decade later he turned chair of the Liberal celebration’s meeting committee, which organised the celebration’s annual convention. In that performance he chaired the controversial defence debate On the Eastbourne meeting in 1986, which led to tensions with its then Alliance companions, the SDP.
He finally misplaced religion Inside the Liberal Democrats Inside the 90s after his time as chief of Newbury district council, and after Tony Blair turned Labour chief he noticed the celebration as a viable route for his Political beliefs, becoming a member of in 1995 and turning into their parliamentary candidate for Newbury On the 1997 widespread election, By which he acquired here third. After a transfer to south Wales in 2009, he was elected as a Labour councillor in Newport.
Retirement took him and his spouse, Siobhan McClelland, whom he had married in 2009, to Pembrokeshire, then Norfolk (the place he rejoined the Lib Dems) And finally to Lincoln – simply Regarding the one place he Did not Discover your self to be actively involved in native politics.
He is survived by Siobhan, two daughters, Eilis and Holly, from his first marriage, to Sally Hannon (nee Arnold), who died in 2007, 4 grand-youngsters and his brother Roger.