THE deputy leader of Cheshire East Council has paid tribute to former mayor Barry Burkhill who died at the weekend.
Cllr Burkhill, who represented Handforth, had been a councillor for more than 40 years.
Cllr Craig Browne (Ind) said: “It was with great sadness that I learned of Cllr Barry Burkhill’s death on Saturday. My deepest sympathies, and the condolences of the whole council, go out to his widow, Sue, and their grieving family.
“Barry was passionate about serving the community and had represented Handforth with great dedication for more than 40 years – and served notably as Mayor of Cheshire East from 2019 to 2021. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and the whole community.”
Cllr Burkhill, who was a member of Cheshire East’s Independent group, represented Handforth on Macclesfield Borough Council from 1979, until the authority was abolished in 2009, and he represented the former borough as mayor in 2007.
He was elected on to Cheshire East Council in 2011 and was re-elected for a third term in the 2019 local elections. He sat on several council committees, including planning, licensing and corporate overview and scrutiny.
Cllr Burkhill, who was also a member of Handforth Parish Council, had a keen interest in medieval history, music and his university subject, geology.
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