IN our first month of publication, (July 2013) we were aware that the three Church Langley councillors held a surgery out Tescos.

We went along. The idea of the “we come to you, not the other way round” type of surgery appealed to us.

At that time, we interviewed Tony Hall. Tony has just passed away after a long illness.

Tony came across as someone who believed that public service was very important, To paraphrase, it it not what Harlow can do for you but what you can do for Harlow.

Over the next seven years, I was alway impressed with the way Tony carried and conducted himself. I learned he was a retired police inspector and that made sense. Tony had a bone dry sense of humour and you could imagine him running a pretty tight division.

Tony was the chair of Harlow Council between 2015 and 2016. In that time, he ran council meetings calmly, efficiently and with a sense of decorum and professionalism.

But we always got the impression his proudest moment as chair was when the Royal Anglian Regiment marched into the Water Gardens to receive their freedom of the town.

As former chair of Harlow Council, Ian Beckett said: “He was truly a man who was proud of Harlow. Everything he did was done with dignity and grace.

A true gentlemen and a true ambassador. My thoughts are with his family.

Church Langley councillors Simon Carter and Andrew Johnson as well candidate Nicola Purse issued a statement

“It was with great sadness that we learned today of the death of our colleague and former councillor for Church Langley, Tony Hall.

He served from when the ward was created in 2002 until last year when he stood down on health grounds.

As a former police inspector he had high standards and cared enormously for the community. He was also a leading member of the Conservative Group of councillors, heading the introduction of the new waste contract, including wheelie bans, in 2010 with great forethought and thoroughness.

“He oversaw the introduction of a new company to run the cemetery and crematorium, bringing in a better service and much needed investment.

Harlow Council has also issued a statement

It is with great sadness that Harlow Council announces the passing of former Harlow Councillor, Tony Hall.

Tony served as a ward councillor for Church Langley from 2002 until last year, when he stood down due to ill health. He was also Chair of the Council twice, in 2008/9 and 2015/16.

It was during his second term as Chair that he granted the Royal Anglian Regiment the freedom to march through the town, an event which really brought the town together and something Tony was always very proud of.

As a mark of respect the council flag is flying at half-mast outside the Civic Centre and there will be a minute’s silence held at the start of tomorrow’s (Thursday 1 April) Council meeting.

Harlow Council thanks Tony for all his years of service to Harlow and our thoughts are with Tony’s family at this sad time.

Former UKIP councillor, Dan Long, who served as a Bush Fair councillor from 2014 to 2018 said:

“I would like to send our deepest condolences to the late Chair of Harlow council, councillor Tony Hall and his family.”