TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Mayor of Darlington remembered as “one of the great gentlemen of local politics”.

Eric Roberts, who died suddenly at the weekend aged 84, served as a councillor in the town for 35 years and was also heavily involved in many other aspects of community life.

Ada Burns, Darlington Borough Council’s chief executive said: “Eric was a tireless public servant and a real gentleman who gave 35 years of dedicated service to the people of the borough. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”

Council leader Bill Dixon said: “Eric was a gentleman who always maintained the highest standards of public life.”

And Darlington’s current Mayor, Councillor Brian Jones, added: “Eric was a lovely man and a great public servant – one of the great gentlemen of local politics.”

Born in Halifax, Eric moved to Darlington as a 17-year-old when his father Thomas was transferred to the town’s Lingfield Point site by knitting yarn manufacturer Paton and Baldwins.

Shortly afterwards, Eric joined the Royal Air Force for extended national service, acting as a corporal in personnel, before returning to Darlington to work in sales for Paton and Baldwins. He ended up travelling the country as industrial sales representative before being made redundant when the Darlington factory closed.

Eric became a Conservative councillor in 1976, initially in the Pierremont ward, before going on to serve in Whessoe, then Heighington and Coniscliffe. He was also the rural area Conservative representative on Durham County Council.

He became Mayor in 1990 and was a councillor for many years before retiring from civic life in 2011.

Outside of politics, he was president, chairman and treasurer of the local branch of the RAF Association.

He was opening batsman for the Paton and Baldwins and RAFA cricket teams as well as a life member of Durham County Cricket Club. He was a past president of Darlington Rugby Club and a former secretary of Blackwell Golf Club.

He was also a committed Freemason and chairman of the Scouting Executive in Darlington.

His widow Marjorie said: “He was a devoted family man and is invariably described as a gentleman – that’s a lovely way for him to be remembered.”

His funeral will take place at 10am on April 4 at All Saints Church in Ravensdale Road, Darlington.