Tributes have poured in for a former Southend Labour and Essex county councillor, who has been described as “larger than life”.

Ron Kennedy, who lived in Eastwood, has died aged 85. He joined the Southend Labour Party in 1970 and four years later won his first election as a councillor.

When he retired from the council, he remained as a mentor for future councillors.

He was also a member of the Council of Governors in Southend Hospital from 2009 to 2015. In total, he was involved in the hospital for 12 years.

Leader of Southend Labour, councillor Ian Gilbert, said Mr Kennedy will be sadly missed.

He said: “Ron was a larger than life character in the Labour party and the community. I’ve known Ron for 15 years since I moved into Southend.

“When I joined the Labour Party to become a Labour candidate, he was on the interview panel for the party. That was the first time I met Ron.

“He passed on a great deal of wisdom and advice to me and many of my colleagues.

“He was a very active member of the community. He was an Essex county councillor, and he was very devoted in Southend Hospital as a governor and also in the adoption services.

“Last year he got very ill, but the Southend Labour Party has never forgotten what he has done for us. He sets a fantastic example for all future leaders.”

Mr Kennedy was also remembered for his love of trains. He was a former driver of the Flying Scotsman. He drove it from 1956 until its retirement in 1963.

In 2016, he was one of the VIPs on board of the Scotsman after its multi-million pound refit.

Chairman of Essex County Council, councillor John Aldridge, also paid tribute to Ron. He said: “Ron was elected to Essex County Council to represent the Victoria Division of Southend in 1981 where he served on numerous committees including the highways, social services, policy and resources.

“There are many who remember him with great affection as a lovely man who was always smiling. Today he is a familiar face to councillors as his portrait hangs at County Hall and features the Flying Scotsman, which he drove in the last days of steam.

“Members of the Essex County Council offer their sympathy to Marlene his wife and his family on their sad loss.”

Alan Tobias OBE, chairman of Southend Hospital, said: “Ron was incredibly passionate about healthcare and gave many valuable years of care and guidance to our hospital.

“We’re humbled and immensely grateful to Ron for the time and dedication he has given to the hospital.

“It was only fitting that Ron was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award at our annual Hospital Heroes awards ceremony that very same year. He was a true gentleman and a genuinely nice man.”