Tributes to councillor Ken Knight

The ex-miner and former deputy at Hucknall’s number two pit was elected as Labour councillor for Hucknall West Ward in May 2011 and became chairman of Ashfield District Council (ADC) in May 2012.

Coun John Wilmot said: “He was a tremendous councillor who put his heart and soul in to the work he did for the people of Hucknall. He will be sadly missed. It is a very sad occasion.”

Coun John Wilkinson said: “This is a really sad day for Hucknall and the Hucknall Labour party.”

He was born in Radford, moved to Hucknall and married Janice in 1962. They had one daughter. When the mines closed he went to work at the Nottingham City Hospital, first as a porter then in the maternity unit. He was also a union representative for 11 years and when he retired he became active in the Labour Party.

He used to be in the Boys’ Brigade and was asked to present the local branch with the commemorative badge for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. He also raised funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Philip Marshall, chief executive officer at ADC, said: “Together with his wife Janice who sadly died last year, he gave the maximum possible effort to his role.”