A highly-respected veteran socialist and former Labour group leader has died.

Paul Harriott, an ex-leader of the now-defunct Gillingham Council and mayor of the town, has passed away at the age of 91.

Mr Harriott was at the helm during the Towns’ most turbulent times, including the closure of Chatham Dockyard in 1984.

He represented the people of Twydall for 52 years, fighting their corner on a range of issues and, in particular, housing needs in what was a deprived area.

As chairman of the housing committee, he oversaw the building of hundreds of homes, the construction of sheltered accommodation and the refurbishment of properties to meet decent standards.

In 2015, the year he stood down from local government, he was given the civic distinction of being made an alderman by Medway Council.

He lived on the Isle of Sheppey before moving to Medway in 1939.

He came out of National Service as a sapper with the Royal Engineers and joined Chatham Dockyard as a technological officer.

Mr Harriott was first elected to Gillingham Borough Council in 1962.

He served as a governor of Danecourt School in Gillingham and was a governor at St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School in Twydall.

He also served as Mayor of Gillingham for the period 1974-1975 and as Labour Group leader on that council during the 1980s, as vice-chairman of Medway Towns Council between 1997-98 and on a variety of committees.

Notable among these are his time as chairman of the Housing Sub-Committee between 1999 and 2000 and as vice-chairman of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee between 2001 and 2003.

“His passion for housing was second to none…”

Mr Harriott has also been the Labour Group spokesperson on the Licensing and Safety Committee and the Licensing Sub Committee continuously from 2001.

He has also served as a member of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee from 2007 to 2015.

He was on Rochester Bridge Wardens Trust for 30 years, serving as junior, senior and assistant warden, representing the interests of the community.

In April 2021, when the country was in the grips of Covid, he wrote to Prince Charles to get frontline workers recognition for their pandemic efforts.

Mr Harriott pleaded with the heir to the throne to award those who served throughout the national emergency with special medals.

He leaves a widow Dorte Gilry, who also served as a Labour member representing Twydall on Medway Council.

When he first took his seat on the Gillingham authority, the present Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple wasn’t even born.

Cllr Maple posted on X: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Alderman Paul Harriott.

“Paul served the people of Twydall for 52 years on Gillingham & Medway councils.

“His passion for housing was second to none.

“My thoughts are with Dorte, his friends and family at this most difficult time.”