Tributes paid to former councillor who dies at 76
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Newcastle councillor who was a “complete gentleman”.
Peter Leggott has been described as a “lovely man who cared deeply about his local community” after his death, following a battle with cancer. The Liberal Democrat, who died at the age of 76, was a councillor in the East Gosforth ward where he lived from 2008 to 2016.
His former ward colleague Coun Henry Gallagher said: “Peter was a great help to me when I first got elected, mentoring me through those early years. He was a lovely man who cared deeply about his local community. He also had a wonderful dry sense of humour, which he sometimes used expertly in meetings that he chaired, to defuse awkward situations. But I know that the thing that made him happiest was being a grandad.”
Peter was brought up in Heaton and attended Heaton Manor School and Newcastle University. He became a college lecturer, latterly teaching at Newcastle College, before taking early retirement and working as a freelance educational consultant. He is survived by his wife Pauline, son James, and grandson Toby.
Coun Nick Cott, leader of the city’s Lib Dems, said: “Peter was a lovely man, with a warm heart, and a complete gentleman. I remember him very fondly for all his work for the local community as an East Gosforth councillor and his support to the Liberal Democrat group on the council and to me. Peter was a solid support and very well respected. In recent years, I grew to love his updates on Facebook about the family, of whom he was very proud.”
Labour’s deputy council leader Karen Kilgour added: “We are very saddened to learn of the death of former councillor Peter Leggott and our thoughts and sympathies are with his loved ones at this time. Peter served on the city council for eight years, representing the residents of East Gosforth between 2008 and 2016 and also serving as chair of the East Gosforth Ward Committee during his time as a councillor.
“He made a valuable contribution to the city and the Gosforth community through his public service and will be fondly remembered by those who knew him and worked alongside him.”