THE FAMILY of a former councillor and town mayor have paid tribute to a “remarkable man, remembered by all he knew for his kind heart and unfaltering values.”

Former Mayor of Prudhoe, Ron Lewis, died on March 24, aged 96, having spent the last eight years of his life at Charlotte Straker, in Corbridge.

Ron’s daughter, Diane Harris, a former deputy headteacher of Queen Elizabeth High School, in Hexham, has led the tributes to her much-loved father.

“Dad will be remembered for being the person he was," she said.

"For being kind to his core, for being someone who stood up for what he believed in, someone who saw in everyone their unique worth, someone who dedicated his life to supporting others and someone who cared deeply about his family as they did about him."

Born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, Ron moved to the North-East in the late 1950s, and gave much of his life to politics.

A former member of the Labour and Liberal Democrat party, Ron served on Prudhoe Town Council.

He later became mayor, serving the town with pride and determination.

A keen human rights activist, Ron dedicated much of his free time writing to prisoners of conscience and contacting MPs about issues he felt were important.

“Dad believed in the power of writing and wrote with pure passion," said Diane.

“He also made regular donations to numerous charities, including donkey sanctuaries, the Samaritans and the NSPCC - to the point where I had to point out he was spending far beyond his budget on these causes..

“He taught me, his son-in law, Ranald, and granddaughters, Jo, who is completing a masters in social work, and Ellie, a primary school teacher, much about the power of empathy, compassion, kindness and forgiveness, and we will be forever thankful for having him as a guide and role model."

In letters written to the family following his passing, many people have described it as a privilege to have known such a “principled and truly lovely man, who in many ways, was too good for this world.”

“I am certainly very proud to say he was my dad,” said Diane.

Living at Charlotte Straker longer than any other resident, the family wished to thank staff for their level of care.