Tributes paid to former council Chairman John Collins

Tributes have been paid to a dedicated and hardworking  former Town Councillor who has died following a short illness.

John Collins represented the North Ward between 2011 and 2019, latterly serving as Chairman of the Council.

Previously commenting on his role as a councillor John said “I was asked if I would consider standing as a Councillor in a by-election in 2011, I agreed and went on to win with a large majority. Being a councillor can be a thankless task at times – the complexities and restraints we face are not always obvious and being a councillor has challenged my patience at times too, but I would not swap it because when you get it right the feeling is amazing. Being in a position where I can bring about change that benefits our marvellous town and the wonderful people that live here really is a privilege. It makes all the hard work worth it”.

When he became the 6th Chair of Cramlington Town Council In 2017 he said “It is a great honour for me to have been asked to serve as the new chair, I want us to all work together and to focus on working for our great town. Our town is a real garden town and the true gateway to Northumberland.”

John was born during World War II in Newcastle and said he had been fighting ever since!

He credited his working life as a telecommunications engineer for showing him how to work as part of a team and also how to develop leadership skills – both of these come in very useful with his council work.

He said: “I have always tried to be honest and fair in my dealings with people and these principles have been with me my whole life”

John’s work took him to the Middle East, the Far East and war-torn Africa as well as throughout the UK – he retired and moved to Cramlington in 1993.

Paying tribute to Councillor Collins, Bob Baker, Cramlington Town Council Clerk said: “John was a great servant for Cramlington. He had a direct but fair style and cared about people, even those who made his life as a councillor awkward!”

“He was in many ways “old school”, measured and polite and he could turn on the charm when needed. But he was also a man of principle who would not allow politics to stand in the way of what he thought was right. But he never bore a grudge and his sense of humour carried him through many difficult situations.”

“John was inordinately proud of his children and grandchildren and for him family always came first. He will be sadly missed”