SOMERSET councillors have paid tributes to Mike Lewis, an “irreplaceable” friend and colleague, following his recent passing.

Mr Lewis, the Conservative councillor for the Castle Cary division on Somerset Council, passed away peacefully at his home on May 2.

He previously served as a county councillor and district councillor, with more than 20 years of public service under his belt.

Several councillors paid tribute to Mr Lewis when the full council met in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (May 24), with a minute’s silence being observed at the start of the meeting.

Councillor Mike Best, who chaired the meeting, reflected on working with Mr Lewis on both Somerset County Council (on which he had served since 2013) and South Somerset District Council (where he represented the Camelot ward continuously since 2002).

Mr Best said: “He was a hard-working councillor for his community and always someone who played an active role on the council.

“We will truly miss him. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Somerset County Gazette: “Most of all, he had a sense of humour – he was a nice man to be with and spend time with, and we all enjoyed having him with his sideways look at things.”“Most of all, he had a sense of humour – he was a nice man to be with and spend time with, and we all enjoyed having him with his sideways look at things.” (Image: Somerset County Council)

Councillor David Fothergill, who served as council leader between 2017 and 2022, said Mr Lewis’ passing “came as a real shock to all of us”.

He added: “He was a gentleman, he served his community and always put his community first.

“Most of all, he had a sense of humour – he was a nice man to be with and spend time with, and we all enjoyed having him with his sideways look at things.

“He was very grounded in his communities and his views – he was just somebody that said it as it was. He mentored many of us, and personally I learnt a lot from him over the years.

“When I was chairman, we had a visit to the UK Hydrographic Office [in Taunton]. At that time, the original James Cook maps of Australia were kept there, and we were like kids in a sweetshop – we were just so excited to be able to see and touch these maps from 200 years ago.

“He is going to be missed by us all – he is irreplaceable. I send all my condolences to his family, his friends and all who knew him – we are left poorer by his passing.”

Councillor Mandy Chilcott – who served as Mr Fothergill’s deputy until 2022 – added: “He was a man that was respected on all sides of the chamber. He was kind, he was caring, a real gentleman – always polite but very astute.

“At the last meeting I had with him, at the audit committee, he was absolutely on form. He was doing what he loved to do – representing and challenging.”

Councillor Martin Wale said he was “still in a state of shock and disbelief” at the passing of his “friend and mentor”.

Somerset County Gazette: Council leader Bill Revans has described Cllr Lewis as a “true gentleman”.Council leader Bill Revans has described Cllr Lewis as a “true gentleman”. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

He said: “I received an email on the day on his passing which said he and Pauline [his wife] were off to France for three weeks and he wouldn’t be available for council matters. This made it even more of a shock when the news came through.

“Mike was one of life’s true gentlemen – it is a much-used phrase, but this is really meant for Mike. I don’t think in 20 years of working with him, I ever heard him raise his voice to any great degree or in fact openly criticise someone – but when we spoke, he always was listened to and taken seriously.

“Two of his many strengths were honesty and loyalty. He always maintained that his first loyalty was to the towns and villages he represented.”

Council leader Bill Revans added: “He was a real gentleman, a stalwart and champion for his community.

“I always found him to be somebody immensely respectful of other people’s views, willing to express his views astutely and calmly and with a dignity that I think we could all remember and learn from.”

Somerset County Gazette: Cllr Henry Hobhouse, who also represents Castle Cary, will handle all casework for the division until a by-election is held.Cllr Henry Hobhouse, who also represents Castle Cary, will handle all casework for the division until a by-election is held. (Image: Somerset Council)

Councillor Henry Hobhouse – who also represents Castle Cary – concluded by saying: “I served with Mike in Castle Cary for 15 years, and if I wasn’t a Liberal Democrat I would have voted for him.

“The town council was in tears at their first meeting when they heard about his death.

“At the last town council AGM, Mike was asked to sing a song – and did, into the microphone, and danced with it. May he rest in peace.”

Following a family cremation, a celebration of Mr Lewis’ life will be held at St. Michael’s Church in North Cadbury on June 14 at 2pm, followed by a wake at Cadbury Court.

The family have requested no flowers (aside from those from other family members), but donations can be made in Mr Lewis’ memory to Barnardos by contacting Harold F. Miles funeral directors in South Cadbury.

A by-election will be held later in the year to elect Mr Lewis’ replacement; in the meantime, all casework for the Castle Cary division is being handled by Mr Hobhouse.