Tributes have been paid after the recent deaths of two former Bristol councillors.
Honorary Aldermen Bill Payne and Arthur Massey, both stalwarts of the local Labour party, were remembered fondly by colleagues at City Hall this week.
Mr Payne, who served Frome Vale ward from 2005 to 2009 and 2012 to 2016, was described as a “kind and considerate” man who was passionate about politics. He died in early April.
Mr Massey, who represented Hillfields from 1966 to 1969, Horfield from 1995 to 1998, and Lockleaze from 1999 to 2005, was called “gentle, quiet and determined” and a “trooper”.
Cabinet member Helen Holland paid special tribute to Southmead councillor Brenda Massey, saying she bore the loss of her husband Arthur on May 3, in the week of this month’s local elections, with forbearance and “grace”.
Councillors, who met for their first full council meeting after the elections on Tuesday (May 25), observed a minute’s silence to remember Mr Payne and Mr Massey.
Mr Payne was a haemophiliac who gave evidence to an inquiry after patients received contaminated blood and blood products, they heard.
Cllr Holland said she thought he would have been most proud of chairing the board of governors of the Bristol Hospital Education Services when it was judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Mr Massey was a Justice of the Peace on the Bristol bench for many years. His funeral is tomorrow afternoon (May 28) at the Memorial Woodlands in South Gloucestershire.
Recalling Mr Massey, Cllr Holland said: “Those of us who knew Arthur will know, you can’t picture him without that trademark cap on.”
Former Labour councillor Marg Hickman sent a message saying: “Arthur had a gentle, quiet and determined energy.”
A message from Bristol South MP Karin Smyth said: “Arthur was a trooper indeed: ever present and passionate about his politics; an exemplar of what I hope we return to - ability to argue your corner, disagree, then have a good chat about anything and everything in a comradely way.”
Reading out a tribute from Mr Payne’s family, Mayor Marvin Rees said: “Bill always felt it was an honour and a privilege to be involved in local politics whether it was in his role as a councillor, as part of a select committee, or just running committee rooms on election days.
“It was important to Bill to be able to serve the people of Frome Vale and to help them whenever he could. He was very fond of his comrades in his local Labour group and the wider party in Bristol and the surrounding area. However, he enjoyed working with people from all political parties to improve the lives of fellow Bristolians.
“Bill was a kind and considerate person and these qualities shone through in the way he worked with his fellow councillors, party members and the people of the ward."
Cllr Massey said after the meeting: "Bill was also a lovely man and will be much missed."
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