Tributes are being paid to Ramsey Commissioner Wilf Young following his death.
The local authority announced yesterday that Mr Young had passed away, having served on the board for 24 years.
In a post on Facebook, Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper said he was one of the ‘most principled people’ he has worked with during his time in Manx politics.
Mr Hooper added that they might not have always agreed but he always ‘respected’ Mr Young for standing by his beliefs.
He also said that Wilf was ‘passionate’ about Ramsey and his passing will be ‘a real loss’ for the town.
Privilege to Serve
Fellow Commissioner Juan McGuinness said on social media that it was a ‘privilege’ to serve alongside Wilf for the last 10 years.
Mr McGuinness added that he was a ‘real character’ and had a depth of knowledge about Ramsey that few could match.
He said the knowledge was ‘lived and remembered’ and will be missed, not just around the board table, but across the town.
Mr McGuinness also said: “He was never shy about speaking his mind. Not always polished, not always politically correct, but always rooted in a genuine care for Ramsey and what happened to it.
“Many people will have their own stories of Wilf. One that will always stick with me was how he would sometimes start a point with, ‘if it’s lies, I’m telling you it’s lies I’ve been told’. It summed him up in a way. Direct, honest, and entirely himself.
“Ramsey has lost a voice that was completely its own. My thoughts are with his family and all who knew him.”