Shire Hall falls silent for ‘lovely gentleman’ Keith Rippington
Tributes have been paid to former county councillor and “lovely gentleman” Keith Rippington who has died at the age of 67. Mr Rippington, who died earlier this month, represented the Painswick and Bisley division at Gloucestershire County Council[1] from May 2017 until May 2021.
He was elected as a Conservative but joined the Liberal Democrats[2] and later became an Independent. Councillors held a minute’s silence at Shire Hall on September 13 and former colleagues from across the chamber paid tribute to him.
Councillor Stephen Davies[3] (C, Hardwicke and Severn) said Keith was a friend and very competent councillor and a man of very strong convictions. He said Brexit altered his political career and isolated him from some of his Tory colleagues but he was a strong supporter of Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie[4].
“Personally, I will always remember bumping into him in The Falcon Inn in Painswick[6] one Sunday surrounded by his family in happier times and I will remember him like that.”
Councillor Steve Robinson[7] (L, Nailsworth) said he too remembers Keith very fondly and was first elected at the same time as him.
“He was a lovely guy and he always had time to chat. We met in Nailsworth for a drink, he loved coming to Nailsworth and we chatted all evening. My thoughts are with his daughters at this time.”
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson[8] (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) said he was leader of the Lib Dem group when Keith joined them in 2019.
“Brexit was something Keith felt very strongly about and one of the reasons he joined us,” he said.
“Keith was on a political journey from the Conservatives, then the Lib Dems and in his final months on this council he was an Independent. He was absolutely a lovely man. He had a lot of very strong convictions and we really welcomed him into our group.
“The most important thing to say is it is a great loss at a relatively young age too. That is very sad for his family and many friends and we mourn him on this side of the chamber.”
Councillor Cate Cody[9] (G, Tewkesbury) extended commiserations to his family on behalf of the Green Party group. And Cllr Susan Williams[10] (C, Painswick and Bisley) said she knew him only briefly but said he was a lovely gentleman.
“Everytime I met him I was struck with his sincerity and how determined he was to make a difference in his community and the county. I would like to offer my condolences here now. He was a lovely, lovely gentleman.”
References
- ^ Gloucestershire County Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Liberal Democrats (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stephen Davies (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucester and Cheltenham mixed up by council in controversial parking permit scheme survey (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ The Falcon Inn in Painswick (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Steve Robinson (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Paul Hodgkinson (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Cate Cody (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Susan Williams (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)