FULSOME tributes have been paid this week to former Mayor of Ramsey Ross Muir, who also represented the town on Huntingdonshire District Council. Mr Muir, who background was in finance, was also an international judge for tug o war competitions, his frie

FULSOME tributes have been paid this week to former Mayor of Ramsey Ross Muir, who also represented the town on Huntingdonshire District Council.

Mr Muir, who background was in finance, was also an international judge for tug o’ war competitions, his friend David Wallwork told The Hunts Post.

Ian Ross Muir, whose home was in Orchard Way, Ramsey, died on Tuesday, aged 64, after a long illness. He leaves no close family. The funeral service has been arranged for Thursday next week, December 18, at Peterborough Crematorium at 12.30pm, led by the Rector of Ramsey, the Rev Richard Darmody.

Mr Muir, who was a prominent Rotarian and Mayor of Ramsey between 1991 and 1993, was first elected to HDC as a Conservative councillor in 1986. He lost his seat in 2002, but was re-elected in 2004.

He was deputy leader between 1999 and 2001 and was a former cabinet member for finance and vice-chairman of the council. He was also a member of the Ramsey Town Centre Management Initiative and at the time of his death was chairman of Ramsey Leisure Centre’s management committee.

Conservative Party agent Sir Peter Brown said: “Ross was an outstanding ambassador for Ramsey and the villages that he represented at both town and district level. He gave 100 per cent to look after their interests.”

Shailesh Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire added: “He served his local community with distinction, including a period as deputy leader of the district council, and he will clearly be missed by all. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends.”

Constituency chairman David Thorpe said: “He was well respected, and I’m sure everyone will be sad to lose him. Our sympathies are with his close friends.”

Another former Mayor of Ramsey, Councillor Pat Taylor, paid tribute to the contribution his accountancy skills had made to the town council. And political opponent Councillor Ray Powell added: “He was truly dedicated, and I’m sorry to lose him.”

HDC leader Councillor Ian Bates said: “He was a long serving and dedicated councillor who contributed much to the council, especially in finance.

“Ross was a part of the Ramsey community he represented and will be a great loss to the people of the town and the district.”

Mr Wallwork said that Mr Muir had been a partner in a company providing outside bars for functions, such as those at the East of England Showground, and had been a keen member of the Peterborough Gilbert and Sullivan Players.