Posthumous award for Jim after 26 years of service
A former councillor who died shortly after he retired is to be be posthumously honoured.
Jim Murray, who was a Lib Dem ward councillor in Fareham for 26 years, will be made an honorary alderman by Fareham Borough Council at a service next month.
Mr Murray died last week at Queen Alexandra Hospital after he was admitted in April, when he suffered a stroke and a heart attack.
The dedicated public servant, who would have celebrated his 81st birthday today, was ward councillor for Fareham East. He had retired in May.
Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of the council, said the honour was well deserved.
'He had been a councillor for 26 years,' he said.
'He worked very hard for the residents of Fareham.
'He had a good personal following. He will be very sadly missed.
'He had retired but it's just a sad thing that he didn't live to see his retirement.
'I had decided I was going to propose him to become an honorary alderman. I am going to do that at the council meeting in July.
'It's something that can only be given to former councillors and it's for people that have given superb service to Fareham.'
Fellow Lib Dem and fellow ward councillor Katrina Trott said: 'I think it's well deserved. We knew he was going to be honoured but I think it's wonderful that it's now going to be done posthumously.
'He should have public recognition. The people of Fareham owe a great deal to him.
'He was a man of the people, for the people. He was very modest.
'He was a wonderful man.'
David Wilmot is headteacher at Cams Hill School where Murray was the chairman of governors.
He said: 'We will miss his experience and his 'can do' cheerful approach to whatever came his and our way and his determination to always get the best from a situation and from the people around him.
'Jim gave time, thought and energy to the role of chair of governors and was always there to be relied on for advice and support to the school and to the senior management team. He was friendly, kind, jovial, energetic and loyal to the school.
'Jim will be missed and remembered with great affection.'
The school opened a new building in his name.
The Jim Murray wing was opened by Mr Murray himself in February last year.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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