MORE tributes have been paid to John Colebrook – a dedicated councillor and family man who will "never be replaced".
After an ongoing battle with cancer, John passed away at his home in Waltham Road, Scartho, on Boxing Day, surrounded by family and friends. He was 75.
The Great Grimsby Borough Council flag has been flying at half-mast above the Town Hall since as a mark of honour.
His wife Pat, 62, who had served alongside John as a Conservative councillor in the past, said: "He was an absolutely wonderful man.
"He was the most loving, thoughtful husband anybody could wish for and he was my soul mate.
"We were so fortunate that we shared so many of the same interests and had the same outlook on life. He was very well known as a councillor and in the wider community, but he meant absolutely everything to us as a family."
Born on the private ward of Grimsby Hospital, in 1937, John attended St James' School before working in the family pet food, grain and seed shop, H Colebrook & Son, in Red Hill.
He left to work on the Humber Bank, before becoming an agent for an MP in Yorkshire, and them commencing a career as administrator for two care associations.
It was through this that he met Pat, who was also working in care, and the pair married in 1997 on his 60th birthday. John was first elected to Great Grimsby Borough Council in 1975 and became the authority's final mayor in 1995-96.
He later became Mayor of North East Lincolnshire in 2009-10 and was also chairman of the North East Lincolnshire NHS Trust and vice-chair of the North Sea Fisheries Commission.
"He always wanted to help people and would go out of his way to solve their problems," added Pat.
"He absolutely loved being a councillor and was very proud to be the last mayor of Grimsby. When he was told he would be mayor again a few years ago he was so very honoured.
"He never turned down a civic appointment and always did his best to represent the borough. He thrived on representing people and was a great advocate for Grimsby and the fishing industry – especially when it came to eating fish and chips!"
Step-daughter Kathryn Atkinson, 30, from Great Coates, who has daughters Lilly, 7, and Poppy, 5, said: "I never remember him saying no to anybody. He would come out and pick me up at 3am when I was younger and he'd drop anything to come and catch spiders for me.
"He was the most generous, hard-working man I've ever met and he was like a father to us. He adored my mum and bought her a red rose every week from when they met, even when they were on holiday."
Step-daughter Charlotte Taylor, 34, from Grimsby, who is mum to Kieran, 12, Lauren, 8, Joe, 5, and Ella, 4, added: "He was always so happy when I told him I was pregnant – he was over the moon and his face lit up every time I told him.
"He loved all of the grandchildren and always did everything he could for them; for mum; and for us.
"My husband said the other day that there will never be another man like him and he can never be replaced in the town and that's very true."
John, who sat on the council's planning and licensing committees, had many hobbies including drinking real ales, socialising, organ music and eating out – especially puddings, of which he would often eat two.
The family wishes to thank all of the carers and district nurses who looked after John, as well as Ashworth Medical Centre.
Funeral details
A service in his memory will take place at Grimsby Minster at 1.30pm on January 10, followed by a cremation service at 3pm for family and close friends. A celebration of Mr Colebrook's life will be held at the Humber Royal afterwards. Family flowers only are requested and donations can be made at either Grimsby Minster or Cancer Research UK. Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for further details.
Local tributes can also be read at www.thisisannouncements.co.uk. Family announcements start on page 26 of today's paper.
THE Telegraph today adds its own tribute to Councillor John Colebrook, who passed away aged 75 on Boxing Day. Yesterday, leading colleagues and councillors led the tributes. They all summed up extremely well the very reason why this former mayor will be missed so much. Councillor Keith Brookes was quoted: "He was a long-serving member of this authority and Great Grimsby Borough Council and he worked hard for whichever ward he served." Councillor Colebrook's breadth of knowledge cannot be bought and cannot be acquired overnight. The years and years of service he gave to Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham and the surrounding area brought with it experience that was unrivalled and that is now lost to us all. As public servants like John pass away, or even bow out of local politics, the communities they serve are left without personalities they were familiar with and they felt they could trust to fight their local corner and, more importantly, to listen. If you wish to pay tribute to Councillor Colebrook, please do so by commenting belwo.
