Funeral arrangements for much-loved Bexhill councillor, Stuart Earl

Cllr Stuart Earl and his wife, Deirdre Earl-Williams

Cllr Earl passed away at St Michael’s Hospice on Thursday, October 18 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just a month before.

As a serving councillor and former Bexhill Town mayor, he is being accorded a civic funeral at St Peter’s Church, Bexhill, at 11.30am on Thursday, November 15.

Dozens of tributes were paid to Cllr Earl following his passing.

Cllr Carl Maynard, Rother District Council leader, said: “I am sure I speak for all councillors and officers at Rother when I say that we are very saddened to hear of Stuart’s passing.

“His involvement with Bexhill residents both as a councillor and a friend will be sorely missed.

“Much will also be said about his efforts as a Rotarian in the coming days which were also of benefit to the wider community.

“We shall all miss his sense of humour and optimism. He was a Bexhill resident first and foremost and the town is a poorer place without him.”

Huw Merriman MP said: “The sad passing of Cllr Stuart Earl leaves a huge hole in the many organisations and causes he drove. It also robs us of a friend and colleague who dedicated his life to civic duty in his community.

“I recall getting a call from a constituent, and resident in Stuart’s Little Common ward, who was rightly concerned about the dangers of crossing the A259 outside her home. Realising I could quickly fit in a visit a few hours later, I dropped Stuart an email out of politeness to invite him along.

“Not only did he join, he had spent the previous hour assessing the traffic and working out what he could do to campaign for a fix. This is typical of the many meetings and visits which we held together, despite him being an Independent and me being a Conservative. Party politics was not important to Stuart in this regard. It was all about working together to get the job done for the community.

“Such was the regularity with which I would see Stuart at various charities and organisations for whom he so tirelessly worked, I initially thought he had a few identical siblings. He will be hugely missed. It is down to those of us who worked with him to carry on the many causes which he had on his list. Only illness stopped him from delivering.”