Tributes to late councillor described as ‘Mr Mansfield’ as funeral details confirmed

Brian Lohan died on Chirstmas Eve at the age of 61.

He had served as Labour member for Portland on Mansfield Council since February 2010, including spells as council vice-chairman in 2011 and chairman in 2012.

The late councillor was also a former miner and dedicated National Union of Mineworkers member.

Tributes poured in following his death and now colleagues have remembered him again during the first full council meeting since his passing.

Coun Paul Henshaw, Labour member for Oak Tree, said: “He was a councillor that was heavily involved in his ward. You could walk down the street and everybody spoke to him.

“He would always have time for people, he took a keen interest in the events going on in his ward.

“Another staunch trade unionist, an ex-miner and a staunch NUM member, and hopefully the NUM banners will be on display for his funeral on Friday, January 27.

“Things we say in this chamber will be forgotten, but the things people do in their communities are remembered. Brian will be remembered for the things he did in his community.”

Coun Mick Barton, leader of the opposition Mansfield Independents group, said: “Brian was a proud councillor and ex-miner like myself.

“We all knew Brian – or ‘Mr Mansfield’ as I’ll call him. He was because he helped everybody.”

Coun Rob Elliman, who represents Oakham, paid tribute on behalf of the Conservative Group, saying: “I’ve known Brian for a couple of years and he was always very welcoming to me.

“After meetings, he would sometimes sneak over to ask for a lift home and, on those journeys, he was always talking about Mansfield.

“It shone through that he genuinely did care and he worked his hardest to achieve things.”

Mr Lohan, a trustee of the Brunts Charity, an organisation which promotes independent living within a safeguarding environment for residents in the district. represented the council on several external bodies, including the Allotment Trustees, Mansfield Education Foundation and the Heilegenhaus Twinning Association.

His funeral is tomorrow, Friday, January 27, from 12.10pm at St Philip Neri Church, Chesterfield Road South, followed by a short service at Mansfield Crematorium, from 1.15pm.