JOE Meredith, who was a district councillor for more than 35 years, has died at home aged 78.
Mr Meredith, of Ashford Carbonell, near Ludlow passed away on Wednesday following a four-month battle with cancer.
His wife Betty said: “I’m very proud of his achievements on the local district council. He always worked hard on behalf of the ratepayers and the area.”
Mr Meredith worked as a teacher at Ludlow Grammar School, now Ludlow College.
He attended the school as a boy and later returned as vice-principal until he retired in 1989.
In local government, he represented Ashford Carbonell, Ashford Bowdler, Richards Castle and Caynham. He started on Ludlow Rural District Council and continued on South Shropshire District Council when that was formed in 1979, serving until it was wound up in 2009.
He was chairman of the district council three times, for a total of 10 years. When he stepped down at the formation of Shropshire Council, he had been chairman of every district council committee.
In 2009, he was made an honorary alderman, which gave him the right to attend civic ceremonies of the new Shropshire Council.
Mr Meredith’s funeral is expected to take place on February 13 at St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow at midday.
