Wolverhampton councillor, 52, dies during fitness run

A councillor and father-of-two has died suddenly after collapsing while out running.

Manohar Minhas represented Park ward on Wolverhampton City Council for the Labour Party and collapsed on Saturday night in Finchfield Road.

The health and social care lecturer was elected in 2004.

Councillor Minhas, aged 52, was married for 27 years to wife Shapinder, the deputy headteacher of Coppice Performing Arts School.

Mrs Minhas, of Compton Road West, said: "He was very thoughtful, he would always put the community first.

"Even if he had had a long day and finally managed to have a meal at 9.30pm or 10pm, if the phone rang and it was a resident with a problem, he would help them first. It is such a shock. He was very healthy and wanted to be as fit as possible to do his work for the community. He was very disciplined about exercise."

Passers-by including off-duty nurses tried to help Councillor Minhas and raised the alarm at around 9.40pm.

He leaves a daughter Mandeep, a 24-year-old pharmacist, and 23-year-old son Jai, a trainee accountant.

Mandeep said: "He was so lovely, so kind and so considerate. He was passionate about his role for the community and as a councillor. People would call at any hour of the day and he would do what he could to help them." Fellow ward councillor Mike Hardacre said: "Manohar will be remembered as a doughty fighter for the people of the Park ward.

"He was never afraid to put his head above the parapet. He will be sadly missed."

Cabinet member Councillor Elias Mattu said: "This is a terrible shock, just unbelievable. It is all so sudden and my heart really does go out to his family.

"He was a friend and a colleague and I was very close to him. He always struck me as a very focused person, a good person, committed and honest. He will be greatly missed."

Councillor Minhas taught at Birmingham Metropolitan College in Sutton Coldfield, formerly Sutton Coldfield College.