Adopted neighbours on one of Atherstone's finest sons: RIP Bill Olner, a community champion, wise counsel and embodiment of the spirit of Warwickshire

FROM CARNIVAL QUEENS TO COUNTY COUNCIL LEADERS – TRIBUTES POUR IN HONOURING THE MEMORY OF RETIRED NUNEATON MP

ATHERSTONE past and present have joined the rest of Warwickshire in continuing to pay their respects to the memory of one of the town's most famous sons in modern times.

Hundreds of tributes have poured across social media since Monday's announcement of the death following Covid-19 complications of former MP Bill Olner. He was 78.

He may have adopted neighbours Nuneaton as the community to champion but he clearly touched hearts as well as lives right across the county.

The great and the good, former work colleagues, constituents, carnival queens, friends and ordinary Joe and Joanne Public have spoken with great affection of the "warmth, fairness, humour and decency" which radiated from the Atherstone-born politician who was still a Warwickshire County Council committee chairman at the time of his passing.

The upper tier local authority said the retired MP had played a "pivotal role in shaping the council as we know it today", adding he would be "enormously missed" by members across the political divide.

A statement added: "Councillors from across the political parties have expressed their deep respect for Bill as a champion of his community, a wise voice on council business and a man who embodied the spirit of Warwickshire

Former Atherstone town and county councillor Chris Clark said he was "sad" to hear of his death, adding: "He really cared about making life better for people and he made great strides in doing so, in every office he held.

"Personally, Bill was a great support to me when I was a newly elected member of Warwickshire County Council."

Atherstone Screenkleer Windscreen Repair Services boss Richard Wightman remembered the retired MP from his days at Nuneaton parks department as someone who "always had time for everyone".

Keith Allen, a well-known name from the past as secretary of both Atherstone Town and Atherstone United football clubs spanning service over three decades, said he was a "top man" – excellent company who didn't "talk politics over dinner".

He added: "He will be missed."

Marcus Jones, who succeeded Mr Olner as Nuneaton MP in 2010 by winning the seat for the Tories, said: "Despite our political differences we always got on very well.

"He was a decent man."

And Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western said his Covid-related death had been a "tragedy", adding: "RIP my good friend."

Michael Barber described him as a "great guy" whose death will be a "big loss".

It was only seven years ago that Mr Olner began a third tier of a political career that spanned more than half a century.

Borough councillor and Labour leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Council for five years in the mid-1980s, he walked the corridors of Westminster as his adopted town's MP for nearly two decades from 1992 to 2010.

When political opponents thought they had seen the last of him, he came roaring back in 2013 – just short of 71st birthday – as a county councillor, representing first the Nuneaton wards of Arbury and Stockingford before switching to Abbey three years ago.

Despite all that debating, he admitted on returning to the fray that he had missed the "cut and thrust" of political life.

Ahead of winning the seat to enter Shire Hall in Warwick, he admitted "I have never served at county level before. It will be new ground for me and it is quite an exciting prospect."

At the time of his death, County Councillor Olner was chairman of the Regulatory Committee and a member of the Resources and Fire and Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Council leader Izzi Seccombe said: "I was very fond of Bill who was a very decent man and a wise politician.

"He got on with everyone and everyone respected him for his fairness and decency.

"Having had a brilliant career as MP for Nuneaton he was just as proud to be a representative for his division on Warwickshire County Council and contributed hugely to the county over very many years of dedicated service.'

Labour group leader, Councillor Richard Chattaway put it simply: "We have lost one of Warwickshire's finest.

"Bill was a great colleague, friend and servant of the people and the Labour Party.

"He brought warmth, fairness, humour and decency to everything he did.

"Over very many years he made a huge difference to countless lives during his distinguished career as an MP, borough and county councillor.'

On touching lives, below are a smattering of tributes from well-wishers on the Nuneaton Memories forum.

Annette Grant posted: "You were a lovely man, down to earth, worked hard for your constituents and you will be sadly missed by all who knew you.

"They broke the mould when they made you."

Former Nuneaton civic mace-bearer Dave Leach said: "So sad to hear this.

"Bill was a lovely man, good mayor and good MP."

Retired local newspaper editor Mike Malyon added: "Such sad news.

"Many happy memories of Bill, through a working relationship and genuine friendship.

"He was a good councillor, excellent mayor, loyal MP and all-round decent bloke."

Two former Nuneaton carnival queens paid their respects.

Gina Ben Ahmed said: "Such a lovely, down to earth, genuine guy.

"Some lovely memories of him."

Another ex-town pageant queen, Gail Clarke-Gealy, added: "Let us not forget that Bill's legacy will live on – in the shape of the Mary Ann Evans Hospice."

That was probably his greatest achievement locally in helping to create the Mary Ann Evans Hospice which serves Atherstone as well as Nuneaton – raising what was then a record £40,000 from his charity fund as mayor in 1987-88.

He also opened the hospice shop in Queens Road, Nuneaton and one of the former shop workers – Shirley Kent – said: "It was a privilege to know Bill.

"RIP Bill Olner, you will be sadly missed by so many people whose heart you touched."