MIDDLEWICH Town Council has paid tribute to one of its longstanding councillors Keith Bagnall, who died this month, saying he had an ‘ability to deal with everybody.’

Councillor Keith Bagnall, who spent a total of 16 years on the Middlewich Town Council over two stints, passed away in hospital on Sunday, October 5, after struggling to recover from a fall earlier in the year.

Cllr Bagnall was originally from Salford and after moving to Middlewich he first became a Middlewich town councillor in the late 1980’s.

Keith retired from the council in 1998 before returning for a second time in 2007.

Members of the council attended Cllr Bagnall’s funeral yesterday, Tuesday, and town clerk Jonathan Williams paid tribute to the councillor.

Jonathan said: “When Keith left the council in 1998 a Labour councillor paid tribute to him saying that although they didn’t always see eye-to-eye, he had a lot of respect for him and his commitment to the community and I think in a nutshell that sums up Keith Bagnall.

“He worked as a councillor when Lib Dems were in, when Labour were in and during the Middlewich First stint but despite that he was always committed to Middlewich.

“He just had this ability to deal with everybody on the same level whoever they were and whatever colour of party rosette.

“Keith was particularly skilled at finance and budget and I know he was really looking forward to working on the neighbourhood plan.”

Middlewich Town Council will hold a minute silence for Cllr Keith Bagnall at the next council meeting on Monday, October 20.