TRIBUTES have been paid to a respected councillor and former mayor who “always had the best interests of local people at heart”.

Norman Williams, a former Civic Mayor of Copeland and long-standing Labour councillor, passed away on Christmas Day, aged 77.

He served on Copeland Council for 20 years and represented the Hensingham ward until his resignation in 2013.

Mr Williams went on to represent the Mirehouse ward on Whitehaven Town Council from 2015 until 2017.

He was born at Keir Hardie Avenue in Cleator Moor and started his career as a civil engineer with the former Ennerdale Rural District Council in 1963.

Mr Williams then worked with councils at Hartlepool, Carlisle Borders UDC, Copeland Borough Council and County Highways.

His daughter Natalie said: “It’s a great loss to us all as a family. He was the most dedicated family man and he lived for us to be happy and healthy.

“He felt like his role in life was to provide for us and be a good husband and father – and he did that. He will be sorely missed by us all and has left a big gap in our lives.”

Mike Hawkins, who represents Whitehaven South on Copeland Council, said: “I’ve known Norman for many years. I first came across him when he was a surveyor on Copeland Council. I was his assistant for a time.

“Later on, he was a wise guide when I first got involved with local politics. He represented the Hensingham area of my ward.

“He was extremely knowledgeable and hardworking and always had the best interests of the local people at heart, tirelessly campaigning for better services and facilities.

“Thoughts and prayers to his wife Linda and family.”

John Kane, who represents Kells on Copeland Council and is chairman of the West Cumbrian branch of Parkinson's UK, said: “We both had Parkinson’s but I knew Norman through the Labour Party before I was diagnosed. He was a lovely guy.

“He will be a massive miss. He was a good councillor. He was what the community needed. He was very community-orientated. It’s sad.

“He’s done a lot for this community. He was very helpful towards people. He was a very clever man.”

Michael McVeigh, who represents Egremont on Copeland Council, said: "Norman was a councillor of the utmost integrity - a man for all seasons. 

"We were robbed of his natural leadership with health issues holding him back from fullfilling his great potential, a stalwart in every sense of the word.

"Our deepest sympathy for his beloved wife and family."

A statement from the Copeland Labour Party said: “We note with great sadness the passing of one of our own, Norman Williams.

“Norman was a dedicated servant to his ward of Hensingham, involving himself in local government for almost half a century prior to resigning instead of imposing swingeing cuts on the area.

“His Labour blood could not have run thicker, hailing from Keir Hardie Avenue at Cleator Moor and a regular attendee at meetings for both constituency and ward until the end.

“Always wanting the best for his fellow residents, his dedication to the wider Labour movement was rewarded when he became the Civic Mayor of Copeland.

“A salute and fond farewell from all of us at Copeland Labour Party.”

Mr Williams is survived by his wife Linda, his daughters Hayley and Natalie, son-in-law Nick, granddaughters Daisy and Scarlett, and his brother David and family in Australia.