October 30, 2019 4.26 pm This story is over 53 months old

Tributes paid to long-serving North Lincolnshire councillor

He served on the council since 2005
Tributes have been paid to North Lincolnshire councillor, John Collinson.

Tributes have been paid to long-serving North Lincolnshire councillor, John Collinson, who died this week aged 66.

John, who served as Labour councillor for Ashby ward on the authority since 2005, died after a long illness on Monday, October 28.

During his time on the council, he was vice-chair on the council’s planning committee, places and people scrutiny panels, as well as sitting on both the standard and appeals committees.

He also served as Mayor of Bottesford and was appointed Labour group secretary in 2015.

Paying tribute, Councillor Steve Swift, Brumby ward councillor on the authority, said: “John was primarily a friend as well as being a colleague.

“We have served together as both as North Lincolnshire Councillors and Bottesford Town councillors.

“Politically we formed a combo back in the nineties when John took on the role of chair of the Scunthorpe Constituency Labour Party while I fulfilled the role.

“Lately that combination was to be resurrected, this time John taking up the position of Secretary of the North Lincolnshire Labour group and I, the chair.

“John possessed an ability to carry whatever duties came his way in a professional way while still holding a friendly approach and a sense of humour.

“This was executed to perfection and gained a natural respect among others in the numerous arenas that he served.

“John will be a major loss not only to me but lots of people both on a personal and professional basis.”

Nic Dakin, Scunthorpe MP, said: “I was lucky to have John as a friend; he was one of the loveliest people you could ever hope to know.

“He was a real family man and a great public servant.

“He was an active, brilliant Governor of Frederick Gough for longer than we can remember and when he was elected in the 2005 by-election to North Lincolnshire Council became as assiduous and effective councillor for the Ashby Ward.”

Lesley Liddle, clerk at Bottesford Town Council who worked with John for 10 years, said he was “committed” to his community and played a vital role in bringing positive changes to Bottesford and Ashby.

“He strived to make both towns great places to live and was part of the Council when we helped secure grants for improvements to the local parks and Civic Hall facilities,” she said.

“On a personal level, I was amazed by John’s positive spirit and sense of humour.

“Even in the most recent months when he was obviously suffering, he showed great resilience and popped in to see me for a chat with a smile on his face.

“John always seemed to see the good in life and this is what I will remember about him.”

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