A MINUTE’S silence was held at Monday night’s full council meeting in memory of dedicated borough council worker Andy Walker who passed away recently.
Tributes to Mr Walker, who worked for the council for 27 years, starting in waste services and landscaping before moving on to home repairs and maintenance, were led by chief executive Kevin Dicks.
“He was the person you would go to if you wanted anything sorted and his passing is a devastating loss for all who knew him and we send our condolences to his wife Lorraine and his children,” he said.
Councillor Bill Hartnett, leader of the council, said Mr Walker, who was 52, had started out as a litter picker on a tricycle before becoming environmental services team leader and progressing through the council’s ranks.
“Andy was a well-liked and highly respected manager and colleague, who also grew up in and was a resident of the borough and he was proud to work for the Council, in an area that really matter to residents,” he said.
Coun Brunner, the leader of the Opposition, described Mr Walker as the council’s ‘go-to guy’ while Coun Prosser related a remarkable anecdote.
He confessed he had only come across Mr Walker in December, when he helped with a housing issue in Crabbs Cross.
Following up on this in January, he called Mr Walker, who said he was in hospital ‘with some health issues’.
“I asked him what on earth he was doing with his works phone in hospital,” said Coun Prosser, “to which he replied, ‘I just like to keep my eye on things’.”
