by Alan Watkins

awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

Ministers from the past and present were among hundreds who gathered to remember Tonbridge and Malling council leader Mark Worrall at a memorial service today.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles (Con) was among those at the service, held at St Peter and St Paul Church in Tonbridge, for Cllr Worrall, who died in April following two sessions as leader.
Among those speaking were Sir John Stanley (Con), MP for Tonbridge and Malling, who paid tribute to the way Cllr Worrall, who lived in West Malling, had fought Multiple Sclerosis without complaint.
Tom Lynch, former president of Queen’s, Belfast, succeeded Cllr Worrall as president and paid tribute to his lifelong friendship and the way that he united people in Northern Ireland.
Past and present chief executives of Tonbridge and Malling council, Tim Tompsoncorr according to Alan Watkins and David Hughes spoke of his legacy for serving the community, while Paul Carter and Nicolas Heslop, leaders of Kent and Tonbridge and Malling councils gave readings.
Cllr Worrall, who was 58 and father of children James, Samantha and Emma, was leader from 1985 to 1995 and again from 2003 until his death. In 2008, he was awarded an OBE.