A FORMER mayor of Coleraine will be remembered as a "dedicated" public servant following his death, party colleagues have said.
William King, a UUP member of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council until he stepped down in 2018, died on Tuesday at the age of 81.
Awarded an MBE in 2018 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, Mr King, who was from the Macosquin area, previously served as mayor of the old Coleraine Borough Council in 2007.
Paying tribute to his former colleague at a meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, UUP councillor Darryl Wilson said: “William was a dedicated servant to the people of Bann, a very dedicated councillor. He deeply enjoyed his role and would have been active out in the community.
"He’s a great loss as a party member to the UUP and a great loss as a friend to us as well."
Mr Wilson added: "On behalf of the UUP, I’d like to pass on my deepest condolences to his wife and children and everyone impacted at this sad time.”
Among others to pay tribute was SDLP Alderman Michael Coyle, who said of Mr King: “He was always a gentleman and he will be missed.
Limavady Sinn Fein councillor Brenda Chivers added: “He always came to different receptions with me when I was mayor to give support and I was really grateful for that.”
A death notice for Mr King described him as the "much loved and cherished husband of Daphne, proud and devoted father of Alison, Lesley Anne and Graeme, precious grandpa of Annabel, Jessica, Adam, Scott, Emma and Thom, and a much respected father-in-law of John, Dave and Keavy".
A service of thanksgiving will take place for Mr King at Coleraine's St Patrick’s Parish Church on Sunday.
