A FORMER Kirklees councillor has passed away.
Eric Lawson died in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary last week aged 75.
The Labour man represented Heckmondwike in the 1980s and Newsome in the 1990s.
Clr Mehboob Khan, Labour’s leader on Kirklees Council, paid tribute to Mr Lawson yesterday.
He said: “I knew Eric for the best part of 20 years. He was a genuine public servant with immense knowledge and experience. He will be deeply missed.”
Clr Khan last saw Mr Lawson shortly after this year’s council elections on May 1.
He said: “In later years, when his health was failing, he was still as sharp as ever. The last time I saw him he was as witty and charming as ever.”
Clr Khan added that Mr Lawson had pioneered green issues during his time on the council.
He said: “In those days there wasn’t much populist interest in the environment, but Eric drove the agenda forward.
“His work across Kirklees on the environment in the 1990s paved the way for the council to do the brilliant things it does today.”
A full obituary of Mr Lawson will appear in next Tuesday’s Examiner.
