Life of councillor remembered in village following his death
A parish council is looking for a way to mark the life of a councillor who died before Christmas.
Councillor Nick Collier was a member of Church Aston Parish Council for just over one year before his death from cancer on November 7.
A meeting of Church Aston Parish Council, near Newport, this week discussed the possibility of finding a way of “marking the life” of the 58-year-old following a suggestion by councillor Billie Knight.
Chairman Simon Stacey said: “He was a very nice person who really wanted to help people.” Others said he was a “lovely, humble guy".
He was a keen footballer and trained with the team at Newport Town but councillors described how it did not work out for him.
The councillor, who was single and a keen footballer, worked for Babcock International Defence Support Group at MoD Donnington.
The meeting was told that his funeral at Telford Crematorium, in Redhill, was packed, and some £900 was raised in his memory.
His parents, who live in the village, were said to be ‘really touched’ that the council is hoping to do something in his memory.
Councillor Collier’s death created a vacancy on the parish council.
Clerk Wendy Tonge told the meeting on Monday (February 3) that an election has not been called to fill the vacancy following a period of advertising via Telford & Wrekin Council.
The parish council is now able to co-opt a new councillor.
“I can go ahead and invite applications from people to fill the vacancy,” said the clerk.
The parish council is planning to interview interested candidates and appoint a new councillor at its meeting in March.
