Former mayor, current serving councillor and honorary alderman, Ken Ingleton, has died.

Described as a “great friend and role model”, the Conservative councillor for Minster Cliffs, Sheppey, passed away yesterday.

A Swale council spokesman said: “Ken, who passed away on Tuesday, July 11, served as a ward Councillor for Minster Cliffs from 1979 to 1990, from 1992 to 1996 and 2015 to the present, and as Mayor of Swale from 1986 to1987 and from 2019 to 2020.

“He also sat on numerous committees during his terms as a councillor including planning and standards and he was the current chair of the Sheppey area committee.”

Cllr Ingleton had also been a council nominee of various bodies including the Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board.

He was a former Minster parish councillor as well as a trustee to various organisations on Sheppey.

The spokesman added: “The opportunity to pay respects to Ken will be given at the next Full Council meeting on Wednesday, July 26.”

Cllr Mike Whiting (Con), who represents the Isle of Sheppey on Kent County Council, also paid his respects.

He said: “I first worked with Ken in the 1974 General Election when Sir Roger Moate was re-elected.

“I was a teenager at the time and learnt so much from Ken about local politics and why honesty in politics is so important.

“He was a great friend, mentor and role model for so many.

“I will miss his wise counsel. My thoughts are with his wife, Mick, and the family. ”

The Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservatives said Cllr Ingleton would be missed by everyone who knew him.

In a Facebook post, the group’s association chairman said: “It is with great sadness that our association president, Cllr Ken Ingleton, has passed away.

“In addition to his long-standing involvement in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative Association, Ken was a long-standing councillor on the Isle of Sheppey, including most recently for Minster Cliffs.

“He was also Mayor of Swale on two occasions and was instrumental in the establishment of the Minster-on-Sea Parish Council, of which he was chairman for many years.

“In addition, he was a founding member of the Minster-on-Sea Rotary Club.

“Ken had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Isle Of Sheppey, its geography, its history and its people.

“He also had a great understanding of the way in which local councils operate and was someone to whom we often turned for guidance.

“Ken will be sorely missed, not only by me, but by everybody who knew him.

“On behalf of all members of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative Association, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Ken’s family.”

Conservative councillor for Teynham and Lynsted, Cllr Lloyd Bowen, said: “I am deeply saddened to have been informed of the passing of long-serving councillor and two-time mayor of Swale, Ken Ingleton.

“Ken was a larger-than-life character who can only be described as a gentleman to those who knew him.

“His understanding of the role of a councillor and Swale Borough Council operations was second to none and his contributions helped shape the council operations we now have.

“On a more personal basis, I asked Ken to be our group whip when I took over being group leader in May as his knowledge, guidance and approach made him the ideal choice.

“I will miss his insight, advice and guidance. His place in the history books of Swale Borough Council is well-earned and has, sadly, come to an end too soon. My thoughts and condolences go to all who know him.”