'The end of a dynasty' - Tributes paid to former mayor of Walsall whose parents and brother also served the town and borough
"The end of a dynasty" - The words of present Walsall Council leader Mike Bird on the death of former Mayor John O'Hare who has died aged 80.
The former Aldridge Central and South Conservative councillor, who served the ward from 1988 to 2011 was leader of Walsall Council from 2007-2009 and after stepping down, became mayor from 2009 until 2010.
He followed in the footsteps of his mother Dorothy who served as mayor in 1992 and represented Birchills, Blakenhall and Streetly wards until her retirement from the authority in 2004. Her husband, and John's father Henry had also been an elected councillor as had another son, Peter.
John, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer in early July, died on Tuesday morning (July 15).
Councillor Bird said: “The death of John sees the end of the O’Hare dynasty in Walsall where members of the family all gave exceptional service as Walsall councillors, with Dorothy and John serving as the mayor of the borough on separate occasions.
