Tributes pour in for passionate councillor Alan Thompson, 51

Tributes have been paid to a 'passionate and respected' Shropshire councillor who has died, aged 51.

Alan Thompson, a former Tory member at Telford & Wrekin Council, died at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on Sunday after a long illness.

Mr Thompson was ward councillor for Edgmond between 1997 and 2003 and fought for the library in Newport to be built. He married his wife of 15 years Hazel in Gretna Green on the morning of the 1997 local and national elections.

Mrs Thompson said: "He carried on right to the end. He was so brave."

He leaves a daughter, Alexandra, 11, who said: "He was just the best dad."

Close friend and former Tory colleague John Alvey, who was voted onto the council on the same day as Mr Thompson, said: "Alan was never afraid to speak his mind. He was such a character and nothing was too much trouble for him."

Sue Harris, who also joined the council at the same time, said she had remained close to Mr Thompson, a member of Telford Auto Club, and his family.

She said: "If you were out shooting tigers he would be the person you would ask to come with you – and we shot a lot of tigers together while on the council.

"He was the one person I could trust 100 per cent. Alan campaigned with me for the new library to be built. He was very instrumental in that."

Mr Thompson also fought for the introduction of breakfast clubs in schools around Newport. The funeral will be held at All Saints Church in Tibberton on July 26 from 11am.

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