TRIBUTES have been paid to a former long-serving Rotherham councillor after he died aged 78.
Michael Hoggard, known as Mick, was a Labour member of Rotherham Borough Council from 1973 to 1998.
Among those paying tribute was Rotherham MP Denis MacShane, who said: “Mick Hoggard was an unswerving believer in and servant of Rotherham.
“He often spoke to me with pride of his schooldays at Rotherham Grammar School.
“He served for many years as a Labour councillor who lived in the community he represented. All in the Labour movement mourn his passing.”
Mr Hoggard, who lived in East Dene, on Far Lane and then East Crescent, worked as a technician for British Steel Chemicals at Orgreave and at Swinden Labs on Moorgate.
He never married and was said to be an excellent cook and a jazz enthusiast.
Mr Hoggard was elected onto Rotherham County Borough Council in 1973, before becoming a founding member of Rotherham Borough Council when national organisation occurred a year later.
He was chairman of the personnel sub-committee and also served on the National Executive for personnel issues for council members.
Mr Hoggard was also a member of the libraries committee and the Rotherham Arts Council.
Cllr Maurice Kirk, who was a ward colleague, described him as a “good friend and colleague, an excellent ward councillor, who was born and bred in Rotherham and always concerned about his local community.”
Mr Hoggard’s funeral will take place at 10.20am at Rotherham Crematorium next Thursday.