‘He was a kind, generous and caring man’: Tributes paid to former Hailsham town councillor

Craig Tasane, 59, died at the end of May this year.

Mr Tasane’s wife Julie Tasane said, “He was a kind, generous and caring man. He enjoyed playing pranks and telling bad jokes.”

Mr Tasane was in the Royal Army Pay Corps when he was younger.

He had one daughter Kelly, and two grandsons Steven and Danny.

Mrs Tasane said, “Craig and I had 10 and a half years together. I moved away from my family in Middlesex to be with him and they were the happiest years of my life.”

Mr Tasane represented the Hailsham North Ward on the town council. He was elected in May 2015 and served until a few months ago when he had to resign due to ill health.

Mrs Tasane said, “He was very proud to be a town councillor and on the planning committee in particular. He strongly believed more social housing is needed and would push for it with development companies. He enjoyed attending events with other councillors.”

According to a statement from the council, Mr Tasane was ‘a well-respected and active member of the local community’.

Councillor and town mayor Paul Holbrook offered his condolences on behalf of the council.

He said, “Craig was a popular and well-respected town councillor, having served the community well and caring passionately about Hailsham and its residents. We are all greatly upset by the news that our friend has passed away.

“I know I speak for all my colleagues at the town council, as well as the wider community, when I say that Craig will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.”

Deputy town clerk and business enterprise manager Mickey Caira said, “I can only add to the many wonderful messages which have already circulated about Craig – this is such a huge loss for everyone who knew him.

“As a town councillor for over five years, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the community that he was proud to represent and contributed significantly to the various council committees on which he served during his term in office.”

Fellow town councillor Karen Nicholls said, “Cllr Tasane and I both sat on the communities committee, of which he was an active member. I enjoyed working with him and I will miss him.”

Mrs Tasane said he requested no flowers, but donations to SSAFA – the armed forces charity – are welcome.