Tribute has been made to Thanet Independent Councillor Alan Howes who died, aged 72, following a collapse last night (May 9).
The Birchington South councillor was elected to the district authority in May 2015 under the UKIP banner but left to serve as an independent last August along with fellow ward councillor Suzanne Brimm.
The former Black Cab driver joined the Thanet Independent Councillors group – formed of members who had broken away from Thanet’s UKIP group – in January.
Cllr Rev. Stuart Piper, Leader of TIC, said: “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Cllr Alan Howes. Alan joined our group in January of this year and has been fiercely independent wanting to serve his community and to honour pledges that he made.
“He has always been a feisty character, even back in the day when he was a senior London Black Cab operator. He once, I’m told, brought parts of London to a standstill when organising a protest to protect his colleagues.
“He had a passion for speaking his mind and telling the truth as he saw it which certainly rippled the waters on more than one occasion. Such characters are people who make life a little more interesting for the rest of us.
“We send our deepest sympathies to Alan’s wife, Doreen, his daughters, Claire and Jan and to his beloved grandchildren, Morgan, Denholm, Alice and Lauren.”
Cllr Brimm added: “He was a stubborn cantankerous old g*t who brought half of London to a standstill over the Black Cab disputes back in the day! I am proud to have known him.
“He was not afraid to speak his mind and that’s what I loved about him.”