Funeral of former mayor Colin Eastwell who will be recalled with affection by all who knew him

 

Colin Eastwell - a man always ready to lend a helping hand

THE funeral of former North East Lincolnshire mayor Colin Eastwell was today (Wednesday) being held at at Old Clee Parish Church - the church where he married his wife, Margaret, in 1955, and where their two children, Carol and Kevin, were christened.

NELC's deputy mayor, Cllr Steve Beasant, who was was elected for East Marsh ward in 2003, the same year as Colin was elected for Croft Baker, has been among those paying tribute.

"Any job Colin turned to he did well, whether on the tourism scrutiny panel, organising the popular Cleethorpes Bonfire Night, the Carnival Parade or in the Mayor’s office," he said.

"Colin was well respected, both on the council and in the community, and he was a perfect gentleman. 

"He was a modern day Victorian who was always smartly dressed. He will be sadly missed and my heart goes out to his family."

Colin was Mayor in 2008-2009, and served on Cleethorpes Borough Council before his spell on NELC which ended in 2010.

His passion for politics began as a teenager and he was a Liberal Democrat councillor for Beacon Hill before it became Croft Baker ward. He served on the Fire and Police Authority, and on the local Drainage Board.

Colleagues remember him as a man who liked to help people, and also enjoyed travelling and studying history. 

He loved sport - playing football in his younger days and becoming a cricket umpire until he set up The South Bank Cricket Club. 

He  was secretary to the Grimsby and District Cricket League for several years and was a member of the Cricket Lovers Society.

Colin’s wife of nearly 40 years, Margaret, died in 1994. 

He later found companionship with friend Hilda Burns, who had lost her husband at the same time. She served as Mayoress when he was elected mayor.

Colin is survived by his daughter, Carol, and son, Kevin, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.