Tributes paid to 'unique' Wolverhampton community champion
Tributes have been paid to a much-loved former Goodyear worker and community champion, who has died aged 84.
Gurdev Singh Rai died on March 30 at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital following a long illness.
He lived in the city since arriving from the Punjab in 1959, and went on to become a well-known personality around the community.
Mr Rai became the first person of Indian heritage to work in the famous racing tyre division of Goodyear, working at the Wolverhampton site until it closed in 1980.
His son, Balwinder Rai, said: "My dad could be stubborn, but he wanted to do what was good for the people and the community in Wolverhampton.
"If he thought it was right for the community, he would go out of his way to do it, whether other people wanted to or not.
"He'd lived in Wolverhampton for so long and wanted to make it a better place."
Former Wolverhampton South-West MP Rob Marris, said: "Gurdev was a friend of mine for well over 30 years and we worked closely together on various projects to try to improve Wolverhampton.
"He could be exasperating, at times, and overly talkative, but the saving grace was that his heart was in the right place, and he acted as well as talked.
"His actions included setting up the annual award for citizenship, which he funded, paying for two sculptures in Wolverhampton and running a respect and responsibility campaign.
"He also ran a campaign over a flag for Wolverhampton and and had active participation in several community groups, with the aim of improving the city he loved."
Former Wolverhampton Council leader, Councillor Roger Lawrence, described Gurdev as a "one off".
"He pursued his projects, which were all well-meaning, with a persistence which was admirable," he said.
"He regularly attended civic events and was certainly full of advice as to what we should do.
"I would describe him as unique and well-meaning and I certainly have a lot of fond memories of him."
After leaving Goodyear Mr Rai went on to work at Wolverhampton Council on security at the Civic Centre.
He ran his own citizenship award and campaigned tirelessly for respect and responsibility.
A member of the Labour party and Unison, he was also an active member of Inter-faith Wolverhampton.
Mr Rai's legacy is marked in the city by Hugh Tessier's 'Ionic Order' sculpture, which he inspired and carries the inscription: "Peace, Hope and Justice for All".
