HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a “unique” and “dedicated” councillor with a desire to help others, following his “untimely” passing.
Arthur Lamb, 31, who represented Cleator Moor East and Frizington on Cumbria County Council, died at his home in Distington over the weekend.
He was also well-known in the Cumbrian cricket community as secretary and coach for Whitehaven Cricket Club and had been coaching the club’s junior teams on Friday evening.
Mr Lamb worked as an information officer at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and had just accepted a new role at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
He had served as a county councillor since 2017 and was on the Executive for Copeland Conservative Association.
He also served on Copeland Council for a short time and stood as the Conservative candidate for the Kells ward in the Cumberland Council elections last year.
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “At a time of such sadness it’s impossible to write a sufficiently heartfelt message to convey my devastation about Arthur’s untimely passing.
“There’s nobody quite like Arthur, he was unique in the most wonderful way. Arthur’s kindness and generosity, dedication, humour and willingness to get involved has been appreciated by so many in our community.
“As we come to terms with such an unbearable loss to our Copeland Association I will take comfort from my abundance of happy memories of Arthur’s intellect and desire to help others, his relentless campaigning spirit, his witty comments and observations and his fruitless attempts to explain cricket rules to me.
“My deepest condolences and thoughts are with his mum and dad, Barbara and Christopher. I shall treasure forever our times together and know I’ll be joined by everyone that has had the pleasure of knowing Arthur Lamb.”
Whitehaven cricket colleague Arthur Brown said: “He was just an all-round good guy who loved his cricket and the local community.”
A statement from Whitehaven Cricket Club said: “Arthur Lamb who is a cornerstone of our club, Cumbrian Cricket and his local community passed away in his sleep on Friday night.
“All our thoughts are with Arthur’s parents, his friends in and out of our club and everyone else who Arthur has helped. He has had a huge impact on so many people, in so many ways and developed a generation of young people at our club. It’s a huge loss for us, and it’s not really sinking in.
“On Friday evening Arthur was doing what he did best, helping others, and coaching our Junior teams with his normal patience, perseverance and fun.”
Councillor Graham Roberts, who served alongside Mr Lamb on Cumbria County Council, said: “It’s so sad. A life with such great potential cut short.
“Arthur was a fantastic councillor and sincere colleague. I shall long reflect on his quick wit, youthful wisdom, his sense of humour, love of cricket and wonderful guidance during elections as my agent.
“May he rest in peace.”
Councillor Emma Williamson, who also served alongside Mr Lamb on the county council, said: “I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Arthur’s passing. He will be a huge miss.
“We worked successfully together to ensure children and young people were at the centre of all the work we did at the local committee.
“He was a dedicated and detail-focussed councillor and was always kind and helpful. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
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