TRIBUTES have been paid to former East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) chairman Maurice Johnson, who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 13, at his home in Medstead. He was 93.

A former Royal Navy officer, on retiring Mr Johnson turned his attention to serving the local community, first as a parish councillor before joining the district council in 1987.

He held a number of offices within the council, including deputy leader in 1991 and chairman in 1995/96. He served as portfolio holder of corporate services in the council’s first cabinet, and as chairman of the Community Forum (Alton and surrounding villages).

The district council’s current chairman, Anthony Williams, said: “Maurice was an excellent councillor who served his residents with passion and commitment and he will be very sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

When he died, Mr Johnson was president of the Four Marks and Medstead branch of the East Hampshire Conservative Association who have written the following tribute to the man who was, according to fellow councillor Mark Kemp-Gee, “simply the most gentle and kindest of gentlemen”.

Branch secretary John Davis said: “Maurice grew up near Gillingham in Kent and was one of seven children. The religious faith that remained with him all his life began here and the family attended church three times every Sunday. He was a regular worshipper at St Andrew’s Church (Medstead) until the end of his days.

“In 1944, aged 19, Maurice joined the Royal Navy and began 31 years of naval service. He became an instructor officer teaching an unending series of recruits. In 1947, he was posted to serve on the battleship Duke of York and later to the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle.

“On both these ships one of his fellow officers was Freddy Charlesworth and by coincidence Freddy and his wife Eileen came to Medstead to live, and became friends. In later years, when Maurice was unable to drive, Eileen became his faithful chauffeur. During a posting to Malta, Maurice married Sue in the Anglican Cathedral in Valletta.

“Maurice achieved the rank of Commander and spent the last years of his Government service at the Ministry of Defence. His work there was recognised with the award of his MBE.

“Maurice retired from the Navy in 1975 and became the personnel director of an international firm of consulting engineers.

His public service began soon afterward with Medstead Parish Council, of which he became chairman from 1983 to 1986.”

Maurice stood as a Conservative candidate for the district council in 1987 and was successful. That first four-year term was followed by six others, totalling 28 years.

Mr Davis spoke of “the honest and straightforward way he dealt with any issue”.

“His fundamental decency and unfailing good manners shone through all his actions and were never found wanting,” he added.

“He will be sadly missed and his rare abundance of virtues without vices earned him the respect and affection of all those who knew him.”

He and late wife Sue, who passed away in 2013, had no children.