Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher has led the tributes to Cllr Richard Maisey, who has died suddenly.
Cllr Maisey was a district councillor for Severn Ward and a parish councillor for Eastington and Mr Opher’s agent during last year’s election victory.
Cllr Maisey was elected to Stroud District Council last year for the Severn ward, which includes the Parishes of Arlingham, Eastington, Frampton on Severn, Fretherne-with-Saul, Great Oldbury and Whitminster.
He served on the Environment and Development Control committees.
Dr Opher said: “The news of the sudden death of Cllr Richard Maisey fills me with great sadness.
“He was one of my best friends in the Labour Party, both loyal, critical, and above all hard working and good fun. He was my agent for the election last year and my constant companion at Labour Party conferences – where we both worked hard and had far more fun than you’d think possible.
“He had a wonderful sense of humour, got us into and out of all sorts of scrapes, all the while wearing his trademark hat.
“He was an ace canvasser and a charming man. Only last Sunday he was out working for the party and knocking on doors.
“I will miss him greatly.”
Former Stroud MP David Drew added: “This news is hard to take. Saw him very recently when he was in good spirits. Loved his quiet wit and his brilliant mind. Only just found out about his importance prior to getting involved in local politics. The word irreplaceable is over used but in Richard’s case it is highly merited. RIP Richard and deepest condolences to his family.”
A statement from Stroud Constituency Labour Party read: “We are very sad to learn about the death this week of our friend Richard Maisey.
“Last year Richard became only the second Labour councillor to be elected for the Severn ward on Stroud District Council, and he was Simon Opher for Stroud’s election agent last year.
“Richard had worked as a solicitor locally for many years, and had a great eye for detail, was a wonderful and indefatigable campaigner, and brought a rather mischievous sense of humour to everything he did. He had been a rock for many of us, especially over the last couple of years.
“He was also extremely kind, which is increasingly a rare, but very special quality.
“All of us in the local Labour family owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He was very happy, as in the picture here (in his trademark hat), campaigning for the things he believed in, rarely at the forefront, but always at the heart of things.
“We will miss him terribly.”
Stroud District Green Party said: “We would like to extend our condolences on the sudden loss of Labour district councillor Richard Maisey, to his family and all of his Stroud Constituency Labour Party colleagues.
Cllr Catherine Braun, leader of the council, said: “I was shocked and saddened to learn of Richard’s passing. I really enjoyed working with Richard and his good humour, commitment to local residents and cross-party engagement on environmental and many other issues always shone through.
“He will be sadly missed at Stroud District Council, and I’d like to extend my sympathy to his family and fellow Labour councillors, as well as to his colleagues and friends in the communities of the Severn Ward.”
Cllr Adrian Oldman, coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: “I would wholeheartedly echo Catherine’s sentiments about Richard. He was a thoroughly committed champion of the environment, a pragmatist, and an extremely hard working Labour activist. I’d like to send my sincere condolences to Richard’s family, friends and his Labour Party colleagues.”
