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Loved ones are stunned at the sudden death of 'Mr Gosport'
A popular councillor and deputy Mayor dubbed 'Mr Gosport' has died.
Michael John Carr, known as 'Jackie', died on Monday morning at his home at Spring Garden Lane, Gosport.
Friends, family and colleagues say they are stunned at his sudden death which is believed to have been caused by a stroke or seizure, although a post-mortem examination is yet to take place.
The 68-year-old Lib Dem ward councillor for Christchurch was a well-known local businessman who had lived in Gosport for more than 40 years.
His daughter, Jo York, said her father, who would have been 69 tomorrow, will be missed by all.
The 34-year-old said: 'We were just so proud of him for what he had achieved; the business successes and being made deputy Mayor this year. He meant so much to so many people and that is a great comfort. It is just lovely that he had such an impact on so many people.'
Cllr Carr, a former Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, had been a landlord of several pubs in the town including the Victory, Railway and Queens Hotel and co-owned the Spring Garden Guest House with his wife, Heather, daughter Jo and son-in-law Mike.
He was elected to Gosport council in 2002 and was due to become Mayor in May 2010.
Lib Dem group leader for Gosport Peter Chegwyn paid tribute to the man he dubbed 'Mr Gosport'. He said: 'He was one of the best known and best loved men in Gosport, he really was just incredible. I had known him for 25 years; if you lived in Gosport then you knew him.
'He was an absolute diamond with a heart of gold. Nothing was too much trouble for him and nobody ever had a bad word to say about him.'
Speaking on hearing the sad news of his friend and colleague's death, Cllr Chegwyn added: 'This has come completely out of the blue, we were stunned when we heard. The whole community will be shocked by his passing. Gosport has lost a true friend and one of the nicest and most genuine of men.'
'Jackie' Carr is survived by his daughter Jo York, wife Heather Carr, 62, and grandchildren Jay, 5, and Cailtlin, 18 months.
Councillor 'Jackie' Carr presents his wife, Heather, with her chain at the Gosport mayor-making ceremony in May this year
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Friday 10 February 2012
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