South Richmond Ward Conservatives are deeply saddened to learn of the death of their ward president, Ian Watts, who had been ill for some time.

He was found dead in his Kew home on June 19th. He was 62 and single.

He had been an active Conservative in Richmond for thirty years and fought Town Ward in the council elections in 1998.

He was responsible for organising the ward’s successful delivery arrangements and many jumble sales. He was active in a number of local organisations including the Friends of Richmond Park to many users.

He had been a governor of Richmond Adult College. His professional career had been as a specialist in arranging furnishing for business premises.

His other main interest was dance and he was a regular in the audience of local dance festivals.

Ward chairman Pamela Fleming said: "We had no hesitation in making Ian Watts our first president earlier this year after all his work for us in the area.

“It is very sad he only had a few months to enjoy his honour."

Ward councillor and former Town ward chairman Rodney Bennett, where Ian was the long-serving vice-chairman, said: "I know of no one who contributed more to the work of the Conservatives in Richmond.

“He organised a most effective delivery panel and ran many highly successful jumble sales. He also kept a close and valuable eye on local planning developments and was always able to brief us most efficiently on new proposals.

“Yet all this was done in the most self-effacing way. In addition to losing a valued political colleague, I have also lost a good friend."