County Hall has paid tribute to former Isle of Wight councillor John Howe, who recently died.
He was described as a ‘big man with a big laugh and an even bigger heart’ at a full council meeting last night (Wednesday).
John Howe represented Totland at the local authority from 2001 to 2021, serving on several committees, including planning, licensing and the children and young people’s scrutiny panel, chair Ian Dore told the chamber.
Held in the highest regard by Totland residents and the West Wight community, Mr Howe was also praised by his close friend Councillor Chris Jarman who currently represents the Totland and Colwell ward.
Cllr Jarman said:
“On behalf of the residents of Totland and Colwell and myself, it’s with great sadness that I report the passing of my predecessor and great friend John Howe.
“John was born on our Island in 1942…John was a Totland parish councillor for over 50 years and an Isle of Wight councillor for over 20. He was my proposer and mentor.
“Many will recall his dedication to help Totland bloom, to the preservation of Totland Pier and to local facilities and businesses. Indeed, no one could have done more to support the wellbeing of Totland residents.”
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The leader of the Empowering Islanders group added that Mr Howe was known as someone who quietly stepped in when others needed help.
Councillor Matthew Price, the Conservative representative for Fairlee and Whippingham, hailed Mr Howe as ‘always very welcoming’ when he joined the local authority in 2013.
He said:
“We had some really, really great conversations on the planning bus, sometimes going to six different sites which is almost unheard of these days in planning.
“I spent quite a lot of time with John in and out of the chamber – a really lovely man.”
Liberal Democrat group leader and the council’s deputy leader, Councillor Andrew Garratt, agreed with the sentiments expressed by councillors Jarman and Price.
He told the chamber:
“John was of course for a while a councillor on this authority in the Liberal Democrats. He left the party to sit as an independent but he never left his liberalism…he was a liberal man to the core and served this Island immensely well.”
