Tributes paid after death of former council boss
Alderman collapsed on way home from event
AFORMER deputy council leader and honorary alderman has died suddenly after a suspected heart attack.
Brian Roberts collapsed on his way home to Oswaldtwistle after an event at
Baxenden Golf Club on Saturday night.
The 69-year-old served as councillor for St Oswalds for 15 years from 2000 to 2015 and after his retirement was named an honorary alderman of Hyndburn.
Brian became deputy leader of Hyndburn council in 2004 under the Conservative administration and also worked with the Community Safety Partnership, East Lancashire into Employment Board and was a member of the Oswaldtwistle Area Council.
Former council leader Peter Britcliffe said he is ‘saddened and shocked’ by the death of his ‘dear friend’.
He told the Observer: “He was not only a friend but also a very close colleague on Hyndburn Borough Council for 15 years. He served as deputy leader of the council and was a very loyal and trusted pair of hands.”
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former deputy council leader and honorary alderman who died suddenly after a suspected heart attack.
Brian Roberts had been enjoying an event at Baxenden Golf Club on Saturday night and collapsed on his way home to Oswaldtwistle.
The 69-year-old served as councillor for St Oswalds for 15 years from 2000 to 2015 and after his retirement was named an honorary alderman of Hyndburn.
Brian became deputy leader of Hyndburn council in 2004 under the Conservative administration and also worked with the Community Safety Partnership, East Lancashire into Employment Board and was a member of the Oswaldtwistle Area Council.
Former council leader Peter Britcliffe said he is ‘saddened and shocked’ by the death of his ‘dear friend’. He told the Observer: “He collapsed and died on Saturday evening on his way home. He had been out to a party at Baxenden Golf Club.
“He was not only a friend but also a very close colleague on Hyndburn Borough Council for 15 years. He served as deputy leader of the council and was a very loyal and trusted pair of hands.
“Brian was an understated person. He was extremely well liked among people in Oswaldtwistle and many of them have paid tributes to him over the last couple of days.
“He is a character who will be very sorely missed. He was a good friend to me and all my family. My thoughts go out to his brother, nephew and niece.”
In his younger days Brian started out by doing an apprenticeship at ROF (Royal Ordnance Factory) Blackburn.
He later worked at a bookies shop in Blackburn and then ran Toffees sweet shop on Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, for about 10 years until it closed in 2003.
Councillor Tony Dobson, leader of the Hyndburn Conservative Group, said he was with Brian at the golf club shortly before his death.
He said: “We were all at Baxenden Golf Club for the Captain’s Night. He left and went back to Oswaldtwistle and that’s when he had what we think was a giant heart attack.
“On behalf of the Conservative group this is tragic news. He was a stalwart of the local association.
“He never chased glory and was always quite happy to be the quiet, thoughtful person in the background giving great advice.
“He was never bothered about being Mayor or leader. Even now he was still part of the association.
“He had sat on the local committee for choosing candidates in the last couple of weeks. He was still a big part of the party and certainly highly thought of.
“Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, some of who were spending time with him on Saturday night just before it happened.”
The Union Flag outside Accrington Town Hall has been flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson OBE said Brian’s death is a ‘big shock’.
He said: “We usually saw one another after council meetings and it was only about 10 days ago when he seemed in perfect health and very cheerful.
“We bumped into one another after the Hyndburn Labour Party constituency meeting where we were joking over Boris Johnson and pulling one another’s leg about a general election.
“It’s always very sad, especially when we lose a former long-serving councillor and alderman.
“Brian held a very important role when the Conservative administration was in control, being the deputy leader.
“Our thoughts go out to family members and all those who loved Brian.”