Tributes after death of Cambridgeshire councillor Mac McGuire

Mac McGuire's death was announced at the beginning of this year

Tributes have been paid to a man described as the "father of the council", following the announcement of his death at the beginning of this year.

Mac McGuire was Cambridgeshire County Council's longest serving member.

He was elected from 1985 to 1992, and then again continuously from 1997.

In a tribute to his colleague, Steve Count, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said Mr McGuire was "a font of knowledge".

Known to fellow councillors and staff as "Mac", he represented Yaxley and Farcet, and also served as a member of Huntingdonshire District Council until 2022.

Mr McGuire held roles including chair of the council, deputy leader, cabinet member for highways and transport, and cabinet member for community engagement.

Sebastian Kindersley, the Liberal Democrat chair of council, said: "Mac was a proud servant of Cambridgeshire people and a strong and effective chair of the county council, as well as being immensely proud of his Scottish roots."

Fellow Liberal Democrat, Lucy Nethsingha, leader of the council, described Mr McGuire as "unfailingly polite and charming", adding: "We will miss his presence, his good humour, his experience and wisdom enormously."

Labour's Elisa Meschini said she would "miss him enormously", while Independent group leader Tom Sanderson said Mr McGuire would leave "a remarkable legacy of public service".

A council spokeswoman said the phrase "father of the council" was "a term given to the longest serving member, which Mr McGuire was at Cambridgeshire County Council".