TRIBUTES have been paid to the former mayor of Ponteland and ex-chairman of the town's cricket club who died suddenly last week.
Alan Varley, 73, died on October 31.
He was born in 1950 in Lancashire and joined the civil service in 1970.
Alan moved to Ponteland in the mid-1980s, when he began playing for and established himself as an important part of Ponteland Cricket Club and worked for the Home Office as chief immigration officer at Newcastle Airport until he retired in 2015.
Chris Morgan, the cricket club's secretary, said Alan served as chairman of the club from 1994 until 2005.
"For all his cricketing and administrative prowess, Alan will be most fondly remembered for his unique ability to field the ball while telling anecdotes to the umpires and batting sides, his trademark 'Ned Flanders' moustache and his friendly and welcoming nature to everyone he encountered.
"Everyone knew him because he was very friendly and outgoing, always welcoming to new members and encouraging younger players. He was very highly regarded and respected by everyone at Ponteland Cricket Club. Until last year, he was still playing. He will certainly be a big miss to all of us."
Alan served as mayor at Ponteland Town Council for four years.
Mayor of Ponteland and town councillor, Karen Overbury, said: "Everyone in and around Ponteland seemed to know Alan. He was involved in a lot of local groups and was a familiar sight walking with his dog Lucy, who sadly died only a few weeks ago. And he always had time to talk and listen to concerns.
"He was first elected as a town councillor in Ponteland in 2014 and was mayor from 2017-2021, helping to guide the Town Council through the dark days of Covid lockdowns and soaring sickness figures.
"He was an excellent local councillor, caring passionately about Ponteland. He was very knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects and his contributions to debates and discussions were always full of wisdom and common sense.
“The last time I saw him was only days before he died, when he came round to my door with home-grown pumpkins for my grandchildren. That was typical of Alan, thinking of others.
"He was a great councillor, a respected all-round sportsman, a wonderful family man and everyone’s friend.
"Ponteland will be the poorer without him. But our thoughts now are with his wife Linda and all his family," she added.
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