TRIBUTES to Wilson Hamman, former Mayor of Knutsford, have poured into the Guardian following his death.

Sue Briggs-Harris, former editor of the Guardian, said she remembered how Wilson would visit the office wearing his big fur hats.

“Wilson was a gentleman. And a gentle man,” she said.

“He also cared passionately about Knutsford, something which we all liked because we did too. When I left the Knutsford Guardian in January 2009, it was people like Wilson whom I missed the most.

“I will always remember him popping into our office, especially in winter, when he wore a Russian-style fur hat. It used to make me laugh because it was never really that cold.

“The last time I saw him was on a Santa express train from Llangollen with my children. He was dressed as Father Christmas but I recognised his voice as soon as he came into the carriage.

“We later had a lovely chat on the platform about local politics. It must have looked quite odd, though, to others to hear Father Christmas getting so steamed up about Cheshire East Council.”

David Lever, former deputy mayor of Knutsford, said he would always remember Wilson with a smile.

“I first met Wilson as a town council colleague, but my wife and I came to know Wilson as a friend,” he said, “Although widely read and with an exceptional intellect, as was always evidenced in the Pub Quiz, he never hesitated to make others feel that their contribution was also very important.

“Wilson was the sort of gentleman who always made you feel better for having spoken with him, he will always be remembered with a smile.”

John Oates, chairman of the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association, said: “I first met Wilson when he was leader of Knutsford Town Council and I knew he once worked as a signalman at Northwich.

“At one stage he was a member of the Mid Cheshire Community rail partnership and I last saw him in November. We are all very sorry to hear of his passing and we remember the hard work that he did over the years for the railways.”

Hayley Wells-Bradshaw, agent to George Osborne and from the Tatton Conservative Association, added Wilson was a ‘character with a big heart’.

“Wilson was an amazing person, he was poorly later in life but during his time as a councillor he was an outstanding representative for the local people,” she said.

“He was a character with a big heart and we are all very saddened by his passing.”

Mr Osborne added: “Wilson contributed so much to Knutsford during his time as a Councillor and then as Mayor. He was a real character and I will greatly miss him.”

Linda Henderson, from the East Lancashire Railway, added: “I would like to express my condolences and that of everyone at the East Lancashire Railway to Wilson’s family.

“Wilson was one of the characters of our railway.

“A very dapper, charming gentleman who it was a privilege to know and call our friend.

“We will miss him immensely.”