Former Tory MP Richard Alexander, who was described as a "true gentleman," died on 20 April, 2008, at the age of 73.

The MP, who stood as Newark MP from 1979 to 1997, passed away after a short battle with cancer.

Mr Alexander, a solicitor, was a staunch Thatcherite except when he voted against pit closures six times, more than any other Conservative.

He championed small businesses and the tobacco industry and pushed Mrs Thatcher to scrap automatic honours for civil servants.

He promoted a Bill to protect residents in private care homes, voted to stiffen trades union legislation and opposed relaxation of immigration rules.

After Michael Heseltine announced 31 pit closures in October 1992, Mr Alexander spoke of a "wave of anger sweeping across north Nottinghamshire such as I have never known before".

After losing his seat he became a member of Newark and Sherwood District Council, and was chairman in 2005-06.

Council leader Tony Roberts said: "Both his wisdom and his vast experience will be greatly missed.

"Even in November, when he was obviously in a huge amount of pain and discomfort, he still insisted on attending council meetings which showed the measure of the man.

"He displayed great dedication and loyalty to the town of Newark, and even after 18 years as MP for Newark, he threw himself back into public service as a councillor.

"Richard Alexander was a rock, a true gentleman whose presence will be missed right across the council."