Tributes paid to Staffordshire councillor Robbie Marshall who has died aged 57 after heart attack

Robbie Marshall served on Staffordshire County Council for 20 years and ran JH Marshall Pressings LTD, a sheet metal pressing and fabrication company in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton.

He lived in Codsall, the village he represented on the authority and South Staffordshire District Council, and passed away on Wednesday evening.

He was 57 years old.

Council leader Philip Atkins led the tributes, saying: “We are all hugely saddened to hear today about the passing of Robbie. The news of his collapse came as a huge shock to everyone as he was in great spirits when we last met at a meeting of the full council just a few weeks ago.

“All who knew Robbie will testify what a larger than life character he was. He had an incredible zest for life, tremendous energy and an absolute passion to do everything he could to do make life better for people.

“He was immensely likeably and a true friend and colleague. In essence, Robbie summed up the very best about what a local councillor should be.

“As well as serving residents in Codsall both at as a district and county level, Robbie also played a key role in the council during his years as cabinet member for health and social care and in opposition on the minerals policy, reducing the amount of sand and gravel mined in the county. Both the council and the county will undoubtedly be a poorer place for his passing.

“Robbie was a hard-working councillor and local businessman, but he was also very much a family man and a devoted husband and proud father and our thoughts are very much with his wife Jane and children James and Hayley at this sad time.”

Mr Marshall, who also owned Marshalls Industrial Estate in Blakenhall, was first elected to the county council in 1997. As well as being a member of the Cabinet he was also the first chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

During his time with the council Robbie also served on a number committees including the planning committee, healthy Staffordshire committee, corporate review committee and the pensions committee, where he was chairman.

As a mark of respect, the flags on the County Buildings in Stafford were lowered to half-mast.