Alan Hockridge

Councillor Alan Hockridge, 62, died as he had lived, working for the benefit of his fellow citizens. Whilst campaigning with Cllr Ron Moon in North Worle on the morning of Saturday 14th April he felt unwell, walked home and died.

His untimely passing has shocked the political world, not just in Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset, but across the whole South West Region.

Alan was elected to Avon County Council in 1993 and the old Woodspring District Council a year later. He succeeded to leadership of the Liberal Democrat group on North Somerset Council in 2001 after Cllr Andy Jopp stood down from the council, and for the past two rather turbulent years has been Leader of North Somerset Council with its mixture of coalition administrations. His main political interest lay in the realm of economic and tourism development and he was a popular and gregarious participant at many social and charitable events throughout the area. He was also an active participant in Regional Assembly and sub-Regional government proceedings.

Though not a natural orator, or smooth political operator he held both his Liberal Democrat party and the wider Council together with a genuine desire to see fair play at all times. He abhorred pomposity, self aggrandisement and the two-faced games of party politics.

He had natural warmth of character, was compassionate, kind and generous. Incapable of sticking the political knife in anyone's back he felt personally saddened by those who chose to misrepresent him. Alan always saw goodness in his fellow beings, sometimes over-generously and to the exasperation of his closest friends and colleagues.

A retired Lloyds bank manager he retained a life long passion for sport, particularly rugby and cricket and was well known at the Hornets Rugby Football Club in Weston-super-Mare.

A political opponent once tried to undermine Cllr Hockridge's authority with the charge of being a "very nice man". That he certainly was and that will be his epithet.

Cllr Hockridge leaves a widow, Carol, daughter Sarah and husband James, and 1-year old grand daughter Olivia.