TRIBUTES have been paid to a “caring” man who made a huge impact on the community.

Councillor Nigel Pierce died surrounded by his family at St Michael’s Hospice on Saturday, 14 April.

Actively involved with local churches and charities, he recently chaired the all churches group in Basingstoke and worked as trustee for the Camrose Centre supporting people at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping.

He was chair of the Haymarket Theatre Trust and set up a bursary scheme for young people wanting to train professionally in the arts.

As a member of the Basingstoke Labour Group, Cllr Pierce was elected as Buckskin ward councillor in 2014.

His Fellow Labour colleague and close friend, Cllr Paul Harvey, said he had an incredible ability to make people laugh.

Cllr Harvey said: “He was involved in so many groups and he was just so unbelievably caring towards other people. He really connected to people on a personal level. You weren’t talking to a councillor, you were talking to Nigel and Nigel connected with you.

“He was my friend and he will be dearly missed.”

One of the pieces of work Cllr Pierce will be remembered for is being an advocate for support of the homeless in the borough.

Camrose Centre trustee Mike Browning add: “During his time with the Camrose, he was so influential and was a frequent visitor to the centre.

“On the council, he spoke for the homeless and he enabled people like me to get in front of committees and officers to give a platform for the work that he did.”

In 2014 when Buckskin was hit by floods, Cllr Pierce was on hand to support residents in his ward, as well as pushing for funding for the flood alleviation programme which was announced last year.

In 2015 he was appointed chair of the borough council’s scrutiny committee.

Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Clive Sanders said: “Nigel was a larger than life character in more ways than one.

“He cared passionately about those in our community who suffer from being disadvantaged for whatever reason and was constantly looking for ways to make things better.

“For those of us who worked with him on council matters he could be a tough opponent, but he always listened and was fair and open minded when reaching a conclusion.

“Above all he was someone who was good fun to be with, a good companion who made life better just by being there.

“The council needs people like him and he will be much missed by us all, regardless of which party we represent.”

Born in Ealing, West London, Cllr Pierce married his wife Julie in 1982, and had three sons, David, Stuart and Nathan, and one daughter, Alexandra.

Cllr Pierce worked at the Public and Commercial Services Union for six years before retiring in 2012.

Prior, he was a HR consultant at Surrey County Council and worked for Transport for London, Cubic Transportation Systems and Drake and Scull, all in human resources and personnel. He studied at both Kingston College and Portsmouth Polytechnic.

A church service in his memory will be held at St Leonards Church, Oakley, at 2pm on Thursday, 3 May.

All are welcome to attend and the family have asked to bright colours to be worn.