A councillor who died suddenly has been described by colleagues as “Mr Mansfield ” as politicians in the town met for the first time since his passing.
Councillor Brian Lohan died on Christmas Eve at the age of 61. He had represented the Portland ward on Mansfield District Council for Labour since February 2010.
During his time on the council, he served as its vice-chairman in 2011 before being elected as the chairman in 2012.
The late councillor was also a former miner and dedicated National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) member.
Tributes poured in following his death and now colleagues have remembered him again during the most recent full council meeting since his passing, held on Tuesday (January 24).
The meeting began with a minute’s silence before councillors from across the chamber paid tribute to Councillor Lohan.
Councillor Paul Henshaw, who represents Oak Tree for Labour, said: “He was a councillor that was heavily involved in his ward. You could walk down the street and everybody spoke to him.
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“He would always have time for people, he took a keen interest in the events going on in his ward.
“Another staunch trade unionist, an ex-miner and a staunch NUM member, and hopefully the NUM banners will be on display for his funeral on Friday (January 27).
“Things we say in this chamber will be forgotten but the things people do in their communities are remembered.
“Brian will be remembered for the things he did in his community.”
Councillor Mick Barton, leader of the opposition Mansfield Independents group, also paid tribute.
He said: “Brian was a very proud councillor and ex-miner like myself.
“We all knew Brian – or ‘Mr Mansfield’ as I’ll call him. He was because he helped everybody. Rest in peace, Brian.”
Councillor Rob Elliman, who represents Oakham for the Conservatives, paid tribute on behalf of the Conservative Group and other Tories across Mansfield.
He said: “I’ve known Brian for a couple of years and he was always very welcoming to me.
“After meetings, he would sometimes sneak over to ask for a lift home and, on those journeys, he was always talking about Mansfield.
“It shone through that he genuinely did care and he worked his hardest to achieve things.”
During his time on the council, the late councillor had experience and knowledge of several committees.
This includes chairing the planning applications committee and various others, as well as being a member of the budget working group to scrutinise financial papers.
He was also a trustee of the Brunts Charity, an organisation which promotes independent living within a safeguarding environment for residents in the district.
And he represented the council on several external bodies.
This included the Allotment Trustees, Queen Elizabeth’s Trust, Mansfield Education Foundation, the National Association for British Market Authorities and the Heilegenhaus Twinning Association.
Mansfield District Council has confirmed his funeral will take place on Friday from 12:10pm at St Philip Neri Church, on Chesterfield Road.
There will also be a short service at Mansfield Crematorium, off Derby Road, from 1.15pm.
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