TRIBUTES have been paid to former leader and chairman of Hampshire County Council Ken Thornber, who died last week aged 84.

Bordon county councillor Adam Carew described him as “a strong leader” and “very decent human being”.

Veteran councillor Mr Thornber, a Conservative, served on the county council for 40 years, during which time he was leader (1999-2013) and chairman (2013-2014), making him a well-known figure among members and the electorate alike.

“Councillors knew Ken was unwell when he was unable to attend the special council meeting last Thursday where he was made an Honorary Alderman,” Mr Carew, himself a Conservative county councillor, told the Bordon Herald.

“I have known Ken since I was elected to Hampshire County Council in 2005, so I was very sad to learn of his passing.

“Despite our verbal jousts in the council chamber when I was in opposition (Mr Carew was a Liberal Democrat before he became a Conservative), we got on very well.

“We regularly exchanged pleasantries and always exchanged Christmas cards.

“When I eventually made the difficult decision to cross parties after a lifetime as a Liberal Democrat he saw the problems I was having with the party and welcomed me into the Conservatives.

“Ken was a fine man, a strong leader. He was intensely proud of Hampshire both as a council and as a county. He was also a consummate politician and a principled one-nation compassionate Conservative.

“I remember one time in debate, after I had just delivered a searing attack on his administration when ill with a virus, I ended up in fits of coughing as soon as I ended my speech. Ken leapt to his feet and crossed the council chamber with a glass of water and cough sweet to see if I was all right. That was the kind of man he was - a very decent human being. There are not many council leaders who can go on into their 80s as Ken did, and my one sadness is that I think he should have probably been awarded a knighthood for all his years of service to Hampshire and its residents. Ken was a kind, impassioned and impressive individual and I am very privileged to have known him.”

Current county council leader Roy Perry said that Mr Thornber was a “hugely respected politician, both locally and nationally” and a “public servant in the truest sense of the word”.

He was recognised in 1993 for his services to politics and awarded the CBE.

His contribution to public life in Hampshire was again commended in 2005, when he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Winchester University. After four decades of service, Mr Thornber stood down from the council in May, aged 84.

He was made an Honorary Alderman - the council’s “highest accolade” - following unanimous agreement at the county council’s meeting on Thursday, November 2.

Former councillor Pat West accepted the award on his behalf, as Mr Thornber had been too ill to attend himself.

A graduate from Strathclyde University with a business degree, Mr Thornber was a management consultant by profession, and worked for Philips, Price Waterhouse, Unilever and travelled far and wide during his career.

Married and with four sons, Mr Thornber had lived in the New Forest for more than 50 years. He was author of the Confederation of British Industry publication Managing Change: The Organisation of Work.

The county council explained that the title of Honorary Alderman is made to recognise the “eminent and lengthy service” of former county councillors.