Tributes have been paid to an Essex county councillor and Parliamentary candidate for UKIP who died on Christmas Eve.
Gordon Helm, 75, councillor for Bocking, was taken ill after a party branch meeting on December 15 and rushed to Broomfield Hospital. He never recovered and died at about 6.10am on December 24.
Jamie Huntman, UKIP group leader at Essex County Council, said: “Gordon worked tirelessly for his residents and UKIP.
“Earlier this year he received an award at the UKIP conference in recognition of this.
“He set up the branch in Braintree and in his spare time, when he had any, wrote poetry.
“I'm sure I can speak on behalf of all his fellow UKIP county councillors when I say he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.”
See tomorrow's Braintree and Witham Times for more tributes to Mr Helm.
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