TRIBUTES TO TWO CIVIC STALWARTS

TRIBUTES have been flowing in Worthing and Arun following the deaths of two civic stalwarts.

Former Worthing mayor Brian Lynn died on Thursday, aged 69, and David Birt, a former Findon councillor and Arun District Council chairman, died on October 26, aged 86.

Tributes from both sides of the political divide have been paid to Mr Lynn, one of Worthing's most respected and popular council members. Mr Lynn, who had been suffering from cancer, died peacefully at his Offington Lane home, with his wife Ann and children David and Claire at his bedside.

He was mayor in 1994-95, six years before Ann, also a Conservative borough councillor, followed in his footsteps by donning the mayoral robes in 2000-2001. This marital 'succession' was a unique occurrence in the borough council's 116-year history, and the couple were also both elected honorary aldermen.

Mr Lynn, who was a JP for 20 years, earned admiration for his wide involvement in an astonishingly wide range of Worthing's civic, social, artistic, religious and sporting activities. And in keeping with his life-loving character, he left instructions that his life should be 'celebrated' at his funeral, and his wishes included that a jazz band play at a post-cremation gathering at Ye John Selden in Salvington.

See this weeks West Sussex Gazette for full story.