VETERAN councillor Graham Longley was a Southend community stalwart and fought hard to improved his beloved home town.

He first felt inspired to be involved in politics when he was 16 years old after a Southend bus strike left him and colleagues walking to work.

Mr Longley was determined to do something about it, and was advised by friends to become involved in Southend Council.

Throughout his life, he was committed to making a difference, and not scared to stand up for others; demonstrated when he joined in the Essex Cricket pitch protests against the proposed South African cricket tour of 1970.

While on the council, Mr Longley annually donated 50 per cent of his allowance back to charities focussed on supporting people in the community.

He served as a school governor and a governor for Southend Adult Community College and was a president of The Southend Brass Band and President of Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society and he could be regularly seen at performances selling programmes in the foyer.

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He also worked hard to fundraise for Eastwood Lions and Southend Hospital Foundation.

And Mr Longley played a key role in saving Eastwood Community Centre and ran it alongside a small committed team for decades.