A SPECIAL award was made in memory of a special man at the recent Pride of Stratford Awards.
Eric Payne was a born and bred son of Alcester who went on to represent the town at the highest level of local government as chairman of Stratford District Council.
Sadly Eric passed away last October aged 78 after a short illness but he his legacy was remembered at the glittering awards evening at The Crowne Plaza Hotel when his wife Maggie received a special award on his behalf.
Eric Payne was a district and town councillor who championed the popular market town and together with Maggie immersed himself in it.
He was a member of nationally recognised Alcester Male Voice Choir and captain of Alcester Bellringers.
At his funeral hundreds of people came out on to the streets to say goodbye to a man who, though never seeking the limelight himself, had been their champion.
