BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council paid tributes to former mayors Marilyn Tucker and Jack Evans who died recently.

The councillors observed a one-minute silence at the start of a full council meeting on Thursday, February 22.

Deputy mayor Dan Putty, who was chairing the meeting, said he was privileged to have known Marilyn and Jack.

“My sincere condolences go to both families. Marilyn was a great lady. And Jack was a gentleman who's had a distinguished service. May they rest in peace,” he said.

READ MORE: Tributes paid to former Basingstoke Mayor Marilyn Tucker

Council leader Paul Harvey said the borough lost two very good councillors in their time who contributed to the chamber and their communities.

“Jack was described as a really good ward councillor who took his role really seriously in representing the residents of South Ham,” Cllr Harvey said.

“He knew how to operate in the chamber. He knew how to operate as leader of the council and he did a lot of very good things in his time as leader and he will be very sorely missed.

“Marilyn was one of those characters that you meet in this place who you might best describe as being formidable. She knew her own mind. She knew what she was doing in this place. She was acutely respected, especially on development control. She knew her planning and loved that committee and that was my experience of her on this authority. And I learned a lot from her on planning committee to say the least.

“I consider that both of them are a loss to our borough. We remember them and we pass our condolences to their families.”

SEE MORE: Tributes paid to former Basingstoke mayor Jack Evans

Cllr Tony Jones said he knew both Jack and Marilyn.

He said: “Jack looked after me as a younger councillor in the day and in our ward. We've done some really good work and outside of the council. He was a character on his own.

“Marilyn was a lovely lady. She was there when I first came in 1991 and so on. Although in opposition, I held her in high regard as well.”

Cllr Paul Miller echoed Cllr Harvey’s sentiments.

“Planning was Marilyn’s forte,” he said. “I learned a lot from her. She put forward all the discussions and the arguments extremely well. It's a pity that some of the more recently elected councillors missed the privilege of working with her.”