Arthur Tennant was a good friend and collegue in the party who passed away last week. He was one of the first people that Jude and I got to know when we moved into Up Holland. It must have taken Jude a couple of months before she could understand his broad Wigan accent (what with her being a brummie).

I’ll remember him most for his friendship, the times that we would talk and he’d tell me about Up Holland, his times in the Parish Council and the characters that he met along the way.

He was always active in the party, right through to the end. We had the election “committee rooms” at his house the other Thursday, and as always it was an open and happy place for party workers to come, have a cup of tea and a chat and then get on with the job.

He constantly campaigned, in recent years on behalf of the elderly, particularly over transport. Consequently, he was a thorn in many people’s side – but for all the right reasons. He would come to the Parish Council and rightly demand answers from the local service providers, and often would get results.

He deserved all the plaudits that he received in the past few months. Up Holland’s first “Honorary Citizen”, a letter from the Prime Minister and a lovely reception for him a the Parish Council.  

I’ll miss him.