THE family of Halstead’s longest serving mayor have remembered his life. David Hume, who died last month, was a Halstead town and district councillor.

He went on to become the longest serving mayor of Halstead, serving for eight years. He was born in Braintree to Lillian and Leonard Hume in 1945.

Dad Len was a partner with John Watson in a plumbing business in Halstead.

David’s brother Richard was born two years later.

The family lived in Fairfield Road before moving to Grove Field at High Garrett.

David went to primary school at Bocking End and then to Braintree High School.

He worked at Barclays Bank for a few years and then went to teacher training college in Brighton, where he met first wife Wendy with whom he had two sons, Ben and Dan.

He taught at Halstead County Primary School – later Richard de Clare – where a former pupil remembers having 50 quick-fire questions on times table every morning.

He took 48 pupils to Llandudno for a week, marched them 10 miles to Monmouth, and then took them to Chepstow Castle where they did forward rolls down the embankment.

Other pupils also remember with fondness the school trips he took them on.

David later became deputy head at White Notley Primary, followed by the headship of John Bunyan Primary.

After retiring early, he was head-hunted to teach and mentor trainee teachers through Anglia Ruskin University, a role he thoroughly enjoyed. He remained active in the teaching community in Halstead, becoming governor at both St Andrew’s and Richard de Clare primary schools, and teaching liaison at the Ramsey School.

Always interested in sport, he played basketball, cycled, played cricket and was a long time member of Colne Valley Golf Club.

It was through Fennes Cricket Club that David met long-term partner Penny, at a fish and chip supper and square dance in Bock - ing Church Hall.

He was a life member of Halstead FC and tried bowls and bellringing. David enjoyed music, playing guitar, ukulele and mandolin.

He was a devoted groupie of the Strawbs, Brian Willoughby and Catherine Craig, and while Halstead mayor became patron of the choral society. Friend Terry Middleton persuaded him to stand for Halstead Town Council in 2005 and he remained an elected member with the Residents’ Association until his passing.

He became mayor in 2007, serving for eight years and has represented Halstead on Braintree Council.

David was thrilled to receive a royal invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2016 – one of many highlights of his time as mayor.

As mayor he was amazed to find how many organisations there were in Halstead and became a member of Halstead Sports Ground committee, Mencap, Rotary, the Masons (Halstead and Braintree), Earls Colne Educational Charity, Halstead Day Centre, Homestart, Probus, Girl Guiding, Samaritans, Halstead History Group and many others.

He became president of Halstead in Bloom and of the Friends of St Andrew’s.

He also became vice president of Mencap Braintree.

He supported the Air Cadets and was a trustee of Braintree Museum and played an active role in Halstead Museum.

David was an active member of St Andrew’s Church and continued to contribute as secretary to the PCC, despite a continuing battle against cancer.

He underwent a stem cell transplant and latterly chemotherapy, which left him with no protection from infections.

David finally died due to sepsis, with his family saying his body “could no longer fight the infection”.

His family said: “A real gentleman as one of his friends has remarked, he never raised his voice but you knew what he thought.

“He never disagreed openly and listened to all the views around him, taking the pragmatic line.

“He has touched the lives of so many thousands of people, supporting them and making a positive impact on their lives an absolutely amazing man.

“Above all he was a family man. His family has always been important to him.

“He was so pleased when grandchildren Samuel and Jacob took up cricket and when Zara and Samuel talked to him about their options at school and their goals in life.

“He was so grateful and gracious to everyone who was with him on his journey while he fought this terrible disease, but the odds were stacked against him.

“He will be sorely missed by not only his family but also by the ordinary people of Halstead.

“Always ready to lend an ear to their problems. To them he was ‘Mr Halstead’.