TRIBUTES have been paid to Councillor Ray Powell who stood for the Lib Dems in Ramsey on Ramsey Town Council and Huntingdonshire District Council. Councillor Powell died yesterday (Monday June 1). He collapsed suddenly at home. He was one of the campaigne

TRIBUTES have been paid to Councillor Ray Powell who stood for the Lib Dems in Ramsey on Ramsey Town Council and Huntingdonshire District Council.

Councillor Powell died on Monday. He collapsed suddenly at home.

He was one of the campaigners who fought for road safety measures on the Ramsey Forty Foot Road, which he called a "Devil Road".

He lived to see the start of work to install average speed cameras on the Forty Foot Road between Ramsey and Chatteris, which had claimed several young lives over the years, including five in six weeks during the winter of 2005-2006.

Hearing the news, Liberal Democrat agent Martin Land said: "Ray Powell has been Mr Ramsey as far as we are concerned. He will be sorely missed."

Peter Reeve of the UK Independence Party said: "All of us in The UK Independence Party (UKIP) wish to express our deepest sadness."

Councillor Powell was born in South Wales, the son of a miner. He came to Ramsey to do his National Service as a teenager. He was stationed at RAF Upwood.

He met his future wife, Jean, at a dance hall and stayed in Cambridgeshire for the rest of his life. The couple celebrated 56 years of marriage this year. They have three daughters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Councillor Powell's funeral is being arranged by Swearers. It will be at St Thomas A Becket Church in Ramsey at a date still to be decided.