TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Helensburgh Central councillor who died last week.

John Tacchi, who represented the centre of the town from 2003 until 2007, passed away peacefully at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley on Sunday, December 12.

After his time as a Liberal Democrat on Argyll and Bute Council, Mr Tacchi became a member of Helensburgh Community Council (HCC), and remained a member of the organisation until his death.

He won his place representing the Helensburgh Central ward in 2003 by beating sitting Conservative councillor Sheila Wilson on a cut of the cards after both candidates received 322 votes.

A retired director of a major building supply company, Mr Tacchi ran businesses in Argyll and Bute for 17 years and had lived in Helensburgh since the early 1980s.

Norman Muir, HCC’s convener, told the Advertiser this week: “John Tacchi’s recent untimely death has deprived the community council and the community at large the abilities of an individual who gave years of public service to the town and Argyll and Bute in his lifetime.

Helensburgh Advertiser: John Tacchi, pictured on the far left of this group picture, served on Helensburgh Community Council after four years representing the town centre on Argyll and Bute Council - and was a tireless champion of efforts to keep Colquhoun Sq looking its bestJohn Tacchi, pictured on the far left of this group picture, served on Helensburgh Community Council after four years representing the town centre on Argyll and Bute Council - and was a tireless champion of efforts to keep Colquhoun Sq looking its best

“It is not easy to summarise John’s contribution to community public life.

“He was for a number of years a Liberal Democrat councillor on Argyll and Bute Council, and we like to think that this period perfected his Machiavellian skills of persuasion and diplomacy to our advantage within Helensburgh Community Council.

“He had a wide range of interests and involved himself in all aspects of community life.

“We are particularly indebted to him in being instrumental in saving the shrub beds in Colquhoun Square which were under threat from cost-cutting measures.

“John was a force of nature, a larger-than-life character who made his views known eloquently, enthusiastically – and very loudly!

“We shall miss his wise counsel, advice and mischievous sense of humour. Above all, his commitment, support and loyalty to the town and in diverse interests, such as the rugby club and the horticultural society, was constant and enduring.

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“He will be missed by all who knew him and we join with others in extending our sincere condolences to his family.”

Mr Tacchi did not stand for office when his single term as Helensburgh Central’s councillor – the last person to hold such a role on their own, before multi-member wards were introduced – came to an end in 2007, but he remained an active member of the local Liberal Democrats, of whom he had been a member long before he was elected to Argyll and Bute Council, and for whom he served as the Dumbarton constituency party’s treasurer until 2019.

Mr Tacchi’s Liberal Democrat colleague Andrew Nisbet, who also served part of the town on Argyll and Bute Council, representing the Helensburgh and Lomond South ward from October 2007 until May 2012, told the Advertiser: “Speaking up for things that mattered to the community is what drove John, whether it was as a councillor, community councillor or as a supporter of community clubs like the cricket and rugby club and the Horticultural Society.

“I will miss his dry sense of humour and his, sometimes, forthright views.”

Mr Tacchi is survived by his wife Mary, children Alison, Fiona and Stewart, and six grandchildren.

His funeral service was held at Cardross Crematorium on Tuesday.