Colleagues pay tribute to Heswall councillor

Nov 14 2012 by Paddy Shennan, Birkenhead News

Colleagues pay tribute to Heswall councillor

TRIBUTES were paid by colleagues to a Wirral councillor who has died after a short illness.

Heswall councillor Peter Johnson, 74, was well known as a farmer and former newsagent.

He had started out as a painter at Cammell Laird before going to live in Australia. When he returned to the UK he worked in insurance.

After he met his wife Mary they ran the newsagents in Heswall’s lower village, as well as running her family’s farm nearby.

He was elected as a Conservative councillor in 1991, and served as mayor from 2006-7.

Fellow Heswall councillor Andrew Hodson described Peter Johnson as a “one of life’s true gentlemen”, and said his thoughts were with Peter’s wife Mary, and son and daughter, Sam and Emma.

He said: “I will miss him and miss his advice. He was very popular and well-known in the Heswall area, not only because of the newsagents and the farm but as a councillor for more than 20 years.

“He was a man of few words, but he worked hard for his constituents behind the scenes.

“He was a longstanding member of the licensing and planning committees, and I know they will miss his knowledge.”

Cllr Hodson said he and fellow Heswall councillor Les Rowlands would now be seeking to have their former colleague made a posthumous Alderman – an honorary title for those who have served more than 21 years as a councillor.

Conservative group leader Jeff Green described Peter Johnson as “an outstanding community advocate”.

He said: “Peter was a tremendous councillor who was always in touch with the people in his area and making the case for the community. He will be greatly missed.”