Tributes paid to 'tremendous' former councillor Chris Curtis

Tributes have been paid to a former Liberal party leader and North Hampshire councillor who has died from cancer.

Chris Curtis, who represented the old Kingsclere and Tadley ward on Hampshire County Council from 1981 to 1989, died on January 20, aged 73, and his funeral was held on Wednesday, February 9.

As leader of the Liberals – now known as the Liberal Democrats after a merger with the Social Democratic Party – he was best known for making the party a political force in Hampshire once again, as when he took over there were no Liberals on the council.

Mr Curtis was also Basingstoke and Deane Borough councillor for Tadley South from 1991 to 1993, a Tadley town councillor from 1983 to 1995 – serving as chairman for a number of years – and was most recently a Baughurst parish councillor.

Paying tribute at a full council meeting, county councillor for Tadley and Baughurst Derek Mellor (Con) said: “Chris was a tremendous parish councillor and his record as a Liberal councillor will, hopefully, remain unequalled.

“I would like to record my thanks for what Chris achieved locally.”

Liberal Democrat member for Yateley East and Blackwater Adrian Collett said: “Chris was a natural leader and much respected at a time when the county council had 102 councillors, but no Liberal members.

“He was liberal to his core and believed individuals were the ones best suited to making decisions, as long as brought no harm to others.

“After leaving the county council he spent many years as a parish councillor, and I was honoured to be Chris’s best man when he renewed his wedding vows around 20 years ago.

“I’m deeply saddened to see him taken far too early.”

In their spare time, Chris and his wife Janet grew their own fruit and vegetables, selling what they didn’t keep at the Wolverton Village Hall market.

The tributes paid at Hampshire County Council were followed by a moment of silence before the meeting continued.