Tributes paid to former Hastings councillor, Mike Howard

Tributes have been paid to a former Hastings councillor, who has died.

Mike Howard, who was elected to represent West St Leonards ward on Hastings Borough Council in 2012, passed away aged 69 on November 11 with his wife and son at his side.

The Labour councillor was remembered for ‘vigorously’ taking on local residents’ issues and supporting a number of campaigns, Hastings and Rye Labour Party said.

In 2018 Mike he stood down to care for his wife, Dee.

Paying tribute, former mayor Nigel Sinden said: “I joined the council at the same time as Mike and right from the start we became friends.

“He had a really good sense of humour and was a very down to earth councillor. They still talk about him in West St Leonards. They still miss Mike.”

Cllr Sinden said he remembers Mike setting up a children’s playground by Skinners Sheds, just one of a number of local initiatives.

He said: “What he did, he did well.”

Former council leader, Peter Chowney, said: “Mike was a good comrade, and a very good local councillor – the only Labour councillor to successfully defend West St Leonards ward. We shall miss him.”