John Skerry
Councillor who died in Scottish diving trip ‘accomplished more in a year than most do in four’
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
9:21 AM
A HUNTINGDON town councillor ‘accomplished more in a year than most do in four’.
John SkerryJohn Skerry, 54, was due to have married Marion Nightingale this Saturday.
But the councillor for East Ward died during a dive at a Second World War wreck off the Scottish coast.
Mr Skerry, of Nursery Road, was visiting the Oban area with a group of nine other divers from the St Ives Sub-Aqua Club.
He had successfully dived around SS Breda, in Ardmucknish Bay, on Tuesday last week but lost contact with his friends as they resurfaced.
The party raised the alarm and a search of the wreck was carried out, involving Strathclyde police divers, two dive boats, the Oban lifeboat, a Royal Navy helicopter, two research vessels and a yacht.
Mr Skerry’s body was found last Thursday after a two-day search.
He owned VJ Skerry Electrical and Data Engineering Services, High Street, Huntingdon, and was elected a town councillor last year.
He was chairman of the finance committee and responsible for overseeing the renovation of Huntingdon Town Hall, which reopened in March.
Huntingdon’s new mayor, Councillor Colin Hyams, said he would like to see part of the town hall named in memory of Mr Skerry.
“He was a councillor for only a year, but achieved more in that year than many achieve in four,” Cllr Hyams told The Hunts Post.
“He looked after the town council’s money as if it were his own.
“At least before this tragedy he had the pleasure of seeing his work on the town hall completed.”
Fellow town councillor Bill Hensley said: “It’s dreadful news – everyone is gutted.
“He was one of the nicest guys I knew. He was a real grafter and pushed the town hall renovation through and under budget.
“First and foremost for him was saving the taxpayers money.”
Friend and fellow councillor Sid Akthar said: “This was really exciting time for him with his wedding and the diving trip with the St Ives diving club.
“What has happened is extremely tragic and it has really shocked me.
“He was a very genuine and sincere person and would always have time to stop and chat with anybody. He was just a very nice person.”
• Leave your tribute to Cllr John Skerry below by commenting on this story.
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5 comments
I was completely saddened and shocked to hear about Cllr Skerrys terrible accident. I only had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occasions but I can say that he was a lovely man and a fantastic Cllr. My sincere condolences are sent to his family at this very sad time.
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Shilpa
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
To do any job well, you need to have support. And being Town Clerk is no different from any other in that respect. Councillor John Skerry’s passing leaves me short of a substantial rock. He was an astute observer; a humorous storyteller; a gentleman professional; and a true leader. I will miss him greatly and my sincerest condolences are sent to his family at this time of such tragic loss.
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Town Clerk Huntingdon
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
So sad to hear the news about John. Although we had not kept in contact we grew up together in Huntingdon and I will always remember him as a friend that anyone would have been proud to have had. My condolences to John's family. Kind Regards David Masters
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David Masters
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Absolutely shocked upon hearing this from Jane. My sincere thoughts go out to Vic, Muriel, Jane and of course Marion. I have known John and the family in a professional context for many years. Thinking of all of you in these troubled times. Lee Pupins
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Lee Pupins
Friday, May 11, 2012
A short note to say how very, very sorry I was to hear about John Skerry. I enjoyed working very closely with John when I was the Project Manager for the Huntingdon Town Hall Project in 2011. My thoughts are with his family and hope the press allow them time and space. Best regards David Langford.
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The PM
Friday, May 11, 2012