Former Norwich Lord Mayor dies

Mary HamiltonTributes have been paid to a 95-year-old former Lord Mayor and Sheriff who died in hospital on Thursday.Bob Symonds, who was a city councillor for more than 30 years, succumbed to cancer in the early hours of the morning.Mary Hamilton

Tributes have been paid to a 95-year-old former Lord Mayor and Sheriff who died in hospital on Thursday.

Bob Symonds, who was a city councillor for more than 30 years, succumbed to cancer in the early hours of the morning.

He was born and brought up in Norwich and was a city councillor for Mousehold ward from 1954 to 1965, when he became city alderman.

He served as Sheriff in 1972 and Lord Mayor in 1973, and in 1974 he became councillor for the University ward, where he served until his retirement in 1987.

Mr Symonds also chaired the children's committee, works and water committees during his tenure, and was a member of countless other council groups.

He took a lifelong interest in city politics even after his retirement, and attended more than 50 mayor-making ceremonies.

Mr Symonds was also a lifelong Norwich City fan, and was presented with a trophy to mark 50 years of his support at Carrow Road by Norwich City supporters' association president Roy Blower.

Mr Blower, also a city councillor, said: 'I was very privileged to have followed in his footsteps, as I served the same ward and also became Lord Mayor.

'I have known him since I was a teenager and he was a man of great integrity - he was a man of the people.

'He epitomised everything that could be good about politicians.'