PARISH councillors in Hazlemere observed a minute's silence before their meeting last week - in memory of their former colleague Graham Phillips.

The 63-year-old, of Penn Road, suffered a heart attack last month and died eight days later at Wycombe Hospital, on October 20.

At a meeting on Tuesday, Judy Weaver, chairman of Hazlemere Parish Council, said Mr Phillips had a “sincere interest in council affairs” and was a “genuine people person”.

He was co-opted onto Hazlemere Parish Council in 2008 after regularly attending meetings as a member of the public.

He was chairman of the planning committee for a period and initiated a system whereby the plans and agenda items could be projected onto a screen at Cedar Barn.

At the local elections in May he lost his seat by just one vote, but continued to attend meetings and sit in the public gallery.

Mr Phillips had worked as an engineer for BT and was a former branch secretary for the Communication Workers Union. He also served as a magistrate in High Wycombe.

His wife Diane paid tribute to the staff at Wycombe Hospital, telling the Free Press: “They couldn't have done any more for him, he had really wonderful care.”

He also leaves daughter Sarah, son-in-law Gareth, and brothers Peter and Roger.