TRIBUTES have been paid to former Mayor of Worcester and long-serving Labour councillor Jeff Carpenter who has died at the age of 86.
Labour figures across the city have spoken out after Mr Carpenter passed away peacefully on Monday (December 20) with his family at his bedside.
Originally hailing from South Wales, he lived in Worcester for much of his life and was a Labour member of the City Council for 27 years from 1973 to 2000, representing the former St Martin ward (now Warndon).
During that time he was Chairman of the Development Committee from 1981 to 1984, and Chairman of the Museums and Art Gallery Sub-Committee from 1990 to 1994.
He was elected as Mayor of Worcester in 1984/85.
An inspirational lecturer in history at the former Worcester Technical College for many years, Jeff was also well known as a local historian and author.
His books included Victorian Worcester: A Biography, Worcester’s Guildhall: An Historical Guide, and Wartime Worcestershire. He was also a former chairman of the West Midlands Heritage Lottery Committee.
In 2016 Jeff was made an Honorary Alderman in recognition of his outstanding service to the City Council.
Labour leader Coun Adrian Gregson said: “Jeff was an influential and entertaining councillor. He led planning and conservation, and was extremely committed to the museum and heritage services.
“A lot of what you see in Worcester today is down to his influence, and it was in recognition of this that we made him an Honorary Alderman in 2016.
“He was a key part of a generation of Labour councillors who brought the city on to be a place that was recognised for tourism, shopping and investment.”
Former Worcester Labour MP Mike Foster said: “RIP Jeff, a former teaching colleague at the Tech, a Labour and Worcester Labour stalwart.
“It was a pleasure to work with you and serve the city with you too.”
Coun Richard Udall offered a unique tribute when he said: “He was a good friend and comrade, a real character who always insisted on calling me sausage.”
