Tributes paid to former Hereford mayor

Friends and family have paid tribute to former Hereford mayor John Newman who has died at the age of 81.

John, who was granted the freedom of his hometown and the City of London, has been described as a lovely man who always put the needs of his community first.

The former Liberal Democrat councillor, ever the optimist, worked tirelessly to help local people in Newton Farm and Belmont.

Lucy Hurds, who stood as the Lib Dem candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire constituency at the last general election, said John was a really lovely guy and always enjoyed a joke.

“He would always do what he could to help people in the community,” she said.

“John was very proud of having been mayor and freeman of Hereford and of the City of London.

“He was also very active in helping us gather information about its history as we plan to mark its 900th anniversary next year.”

Former Herefordshire Council leader Terry James said he knew John from the 1980s when he helped get him elected in a by-election.

“He was a perfect local councillor who was totally committed to his constituents,” he said.

“If people needed help, he would get something done.

“Always the optimist, he saw the best in people and always had a smile on his face.

“He was a formidable personality in his heyday.”

Former Independent Newton Farm councillor Phil Edwards said he knew John from his time as parish councillor at Belmont Rural where he served alongside him and Clem Tudge.

“John put his heart and soul into the Newton Farm community centre information office next to the chip shop.

“He spent a lot of his time in the centre providing information to residents first hand as a councillor.

“The centre was pretty much his second home.

“Tea and biscuits were shared with everyone from the then MP Paul Keetch, who held his surgeries there, to local residents.

“They were supported by Herefordshire Housing who provided the office free of charge.”

Mr Edwards said he worked well with John and Clem which helped bring about Belmont Country Park.

“It’s when you hear of people’s passing that you reflect on how the pieces of the jigsaw came together.”

Councillor Kevin Tillet said John was a shining example of someone who put the community first.

He said he was affectionately known as ‘Lord Belmont’.

“I knew John very well. When we moved to Hereford in the 1990s he was our councillor.

“He was very sociable and thoroughly nice chap. He did so much for Newton Farm and Belmont Community Centre.

“Everyone misses him so much.”