Tributes to 'wonderful and much loved' former Wakefield councillor Edwin Hirst

Mr Hirst, who served as a councillor for 14 years and worked as a magistrate for more than two decades, passed away last week, after falling ill with pneumonia.

His son said: "Edwin, a wonderful and much loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away yesterday morning after being taken ill with pneumonia at the end of April.

“He had been in The Countess of Chester hospital for six weeks where was cared for by a wonderful team of medics. Sadly, he never came home and passed away, very peacefully.

"We hope to arrange an opportunity to celebrate the life of my Dad in due course but we don't have any definite details at the moment in these unprecedented times.”

Leading the tributes, Sandal Community Association said they had learned of his passing with "the greatest sadness".

Mr Hirst was born in Wakefield, and lived in the city for more than 85 years, before moving to Chester to live near his daughter two years ago.

Along with his wife Kathleen, he produced four books based on his paintings of the city's landmarks.

As well as serving as Deputy Mayor of Wakefield City Council from 1967 to 1968, he was a Member of the Board of Visitors for Wakefield Prison.

In 2018, he was awarded a British Empire Medal for his services to the community, which included serving as chairman of St John's and Northgate Aged Welfare Committee and chairman of the Wakefield and District Hospice Appeal.

As well as helping to create the Sandal Community Association, he founded the village's art group, and in later life became a full time fundraiser for Wakefield Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support.