A PLAQUE commemorating the life of one of Richmondshire’s longest serving councillors has been unveiled.

Rob Johnson had served as a Richmondshire District Council ward member for Catterick Village for 12 years when he died earlier this year, and spent two years as chairman of the authority.

Cllr Johnson, 71, died in February after a long illness, and is survived by his wife Teresa.

Outgoing chairman of the council, Councillor Russell Lord, unveiled the tribute in the garden of Mercury House council offices in Richmond this week. He said: “Rob was a big man with a big heart who did a huge amount of work for the local area – he was a credit to the district council and his ward. “He is greatly missed – and it was only right that we should remember him always with this plaque in the gardens of Mercury House.”

Cllr Johnson retired in 1990 after a distinguished career running children’s homes and children’s centres to buy and develop several nursing homes in the county.

Since 2003 he was a member of many committees and during two terms as council chairman he raised almost £2,500 for four local charities – the Forces Children’s Trust, Richmond and Catterick Riding for the Disabled Association, Michael Syddall Church of England Primary School in Catterick Village and Catterick Village Girl Guide Group.