A brilliant man who worked hard to better people's lives; COUNCIL CHIEFS PAY TRIBUTE TO FORMER LORD MAYOR AND FAMILY MAN.

Byline: AMY HUNT

ONE of Newcastle's most respected former councillors has died.

Roy Burgess, who was Lord Mayor of the city from 1985 to 1986, died on October 3, aged 83.

He was a councillor for Denton and then Scotswood for 29 years, serving in prominent roles such as deputy council leader and chairman of the passenger transport authority. Mr Burgess is survived by his wife of 64 years, Audrey, daughters Margaret and Pauline, Grandchildren Douglas, Michael, Julie, Stephen and Suzanne and his three greatgrandchildren.

Today political colleagues paid tribute to his dedication to serving the people of Newcastle.

Newcastle's council leader John Shipley said: "Roy achieved so much in his many years of public service for our city.

"He was a brilliant councillor who worked so hard to better people's lives. He reached a very senior role in planning and transport and his vision and hard work allowed many of the projects which we take for granted today to happen.

"He proved an outstanding Lord Mayor and many people in the city remember him with enormous respect."

Coun Rob Higgins, who was Mr Burgess' successor as Labour councillor for Scotswood, said: "What I most remember about Roy was how popular he was.

"He was always a man of the people. He went drinking in Scotswood club and enjoyed catching up with the lads. He always had a smile on his face and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Even if he had a political disagreement with someone he never bore a grudge.

"He was as dedicated to his family as he was to politics."

Born in Shieldfield in 1925, Mr Burgess left school at 14 and got a job on the railways, where he worked for 49 years before retiring as a train driver in 1990.

He joined the Labour party in 1948 and was elected to represent Denton ward for six years, from 1964 to 1970, on the Newburn Urban District Council, prior to the reorganisation of local government.

In 1972 he was elected to the city council as member for Scotswood and served until 1995, when he was made an honorary alderman in recognition of his long service.

In 1986 Mr Burgess was elected deputy to council leader Sir Jeremy Beecham during the Labour administration of the 1980s, having served as secretary of the group for 10 years. As well as his year as Lord Mayor, Mr Burgess' other roles included chairman of the planning committee, the racial equality committee and the Cityworks committee.

He was also the second chairman of the passenger transport committee and played a key role in developing the Tyne and Wear Metro system, overseeing its extensions to Sunderland and Airport.

In 1990 he was given the British Empire Medal for services to the railways.

His funeral was held at the West Road Crematorium on October 8, with a collection for Mencap, a charity which Mr Burgess was Newcastle president.

HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST: YOUR SHOUT - PAGES 26&27

CAPTION(S):

ROYAL HONOUR: Coun Roy Burgess with Coun Peter Mole and The Queen at Hampton Court in 1982 CELEBRITY LIFE: Roy Burgess pictured with actress Joanna Lumley at the Mansion House during his time as Lord Mayor of Newcastle from 1985 to 86