Jim Axon, who died last month aged 79.
TRIBUTES were paid last night to former Epping Forest District Council chairman Jim Axon, who died in December aged 79.
A minute's silence followed by speeches in his memory was held during a meeting of the full council at its offices in Epping High Street.
Mr Axon, who represented Theydon Bois ward between 1979 and 1996, died at his home in Blunts Farm, Coopersale Lane, in the same house where he was born.
He was council chair between 1991 and 1992.
Mr Axon was praised variously by councillors as "an independent thinker", "fair-minded" and "someone who treated everyone with respect."
Current council chair, Cllr Penny Smith, said he was a "genial and lovely man".
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