First chairman of South Staffordshire Council dies aged 88

Rex Roberts OBE served on Staffordshire County Council as a member for Brewood for 43 years from 1970 to 2013, and has been remembered as a popular, hardworking man, and a perfect gentleman.

He was a member of the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority and recently took part in South Staffordshire Council's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Len Bloomer, chairman of the fire authority, said he first got to know Mr Roberts in 2001 when he won the Trent Valley seat on the county council. Mr Roberts was the party's leader at the time, and appointed Mr Bloomer to the fire authority.

He said Mr Roberts had been on the authority's Integrated Asset Development Strategy Programme Board, and had overseen all of the new builds: "He did an excellent job, as usual."

"He was the perfect gentleman, I never heard a bad word out of him I don't think. He was easy to get on with, and easy to work with - he was always willing to share a problem with you and help you sort it at all levels, whether it was county business or authority business.

When he had a bad fall a couple of years ago, his wife had had difficulty getting to the hospital to visit him so members of the authority took it in turns to drive her there.

Mr Bloomer said: "I don't think there was a week we ever missed, members went sometimes two or three times a week. We never had to fight, there was always a member of the authority willing to go. Rex always appreciated that."

His friend had been a wonderful servant to the people of Staffordshire, he said, and not just South Staffordshire and the Stafford borough, but the whole of the county.

"He was a very very popular man and will be sadly missed by an awful lot of people. It is going to be a chock-a-block funeral."

He had been in hospital for a recent operation, Mr Bloomer said, and while Mr Roberts had recovered from the operation, he developed an infection and passed away a few days ago.

The leader of Staffordshire County Council Philip Atkins and leader of South Staffordshire Council Brian Edwards also paid tribute to Mr Roberts.

In a joint statement they said: "We were extremely sorry to hear of Rex's passing and send our condolences to his family.

"Rex was a popular and highly-respected member of the community in South Staffordshire.

"His proud record of over 40 years' service on both the district and county council is testament to his unwavering dedication to his local community.

"He was a great friend and colleague, passionate about his work and highly respected by those he came into contact with.

"He will be sadly missed by both councils and everyone who knew him."