TRIBUTES have been paid to stalwart Worcester city councillor Barry Mackenzie-Williams, who died yesterday morning.

Mr Mackenzie-Williams, a serving cabinet member, died aged 79, at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

His wife, Susie, aged 74, led the tributes to her husband, saying: “He was a man to make you proud.

“I was very proud for the service he has given to his country and the fact that he stuck it out with me for 55 years. He was a really good man.”

His daughter Fiona described him as incredibly kind, while daughter Harriet said he had had a brilliant sense of humour.

His son Duncan said his father was so dedicated to his children that when he undertook an accountancy diploma, Mr Mackenzie-Williams took the same course to help him study.

The family said Mr Mackenzie-Williams had never really recovered from a heart attack in 2007 but was well enough to return to council duties until just before Christmas when he deteroriated, suffering kidney failure related to his ongoing heart problems.

Mrs Mackenzie-Williams said: “His body let him down but his brain was still churning away. He wanted to be out doing things. Even in hospital he was saying, ‘Get someone from the council to bring me in some papers’. He was so proud of being a councillor.”

Mr Mackenzie-Williams joined the council as conservative member for St Clements in 2002, then represented Bedwardine. He served on the cabinet from 2003 and became deputy council leader in 2006.

He also worked with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Worcester consolidated municipal charities and many more organisations.

Mr Mackenzie-Williams was born in Surrey in 1930 and brought up in South Africa. He returned to England, aged 18, and joined the Royal Navy.

In 1955 he met his future wife and they had four children – Fiona, aged 53, Petroc, 49, Duncan, 46, and Harriet, 41, and nine grandchildren, now aged between two and 20.

In 1970 he joined the Royal Corp of Naval Constructors, helping to design warships and weapon systems. He spent the rest of his career at the Ministry of Defence in a variety of roles.

Following his retirement in 1992 he fulfilled a long held dream to become a barrister and graduated in 1994 and becoming a member on the inner temple.

The couple came to Worcester in 1997, where Mr Mackenzie-Williams threw himself into helping the community.

Council leader Simon Geraghty said: “Barry was a good friend and a great colleague. He was a very hard-working and dedicated councillor.” Labour leader Adrian Gregson said he was a “voice of reason”.

Mr Mackenzie-Williams’ funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 20, at 1pm, at Worcester Crematorium.