Dudley Labour Group has paid tribute to former Mayor, Council Leader, Ward Councillor and Freeman of the Borough of Dudley, Fred Hunt, who has passed away.

Councillor Hunt, who represented Lye and Wollescote Ward from 1973 to 2002 was Council Leader for many years as well as Mayor in 1999/2000. Dudley Labour Group Leader, Cllr Qadar Zada said:

‘’Fred Hunt was a stalwart of the Labour party giving almost 40 years dedicated and loyal service to the party and his constituents.

"Fred successfully led the Council for 14 years, including the financially challenging years when the Conservatives were in government. Fred had also, for long, wanted to be Mayor for the Millenium, and he carried out his mayoral duties with dignity, authority, wisdom and good humour.

"He added ‘’Fred is a huge loss to the communities in Lye and Wollescote and the wider borough that he served and which he continued to serve up until his sad passing.

"This included chairing the Miners Welfare Charity for many years as well as being Chair of Stourbridge Age Concern’.

‘’Fred’s passing truly represents the end of an era and he will be deeply missed by all, including his widow Mavis and the family, who are currently in our thoughts and prayers."

Even after retirement he was a familiar figure around Lye and Wollescote, the ward he represented, being on the board of Wollescote Community Association, officially opening a sensory garden aged 89.