Tributes have been paid to a county councillor and former head teacher whose “loss will be felt across the community” after his death at the age of 65.
John Crofts, who was elected as aLiberal Democrat county councillor for Freebridge Lynn last year, had been in the top job at Hunstanton’s independent Glebe House School for 14 years until he retired in 2018.
John’s peers within the North West Norfolk Liberal Democrats group said they were “sad to announce” his death - which they said was “unexpected”.
“He passed away peacefully in his sleep just after his 65th birthday on Tuesday night,” they added.
Cllr Rob Colwell, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Gaywood South and parliamentary candidate for North West Norfolk in next month’s general election, said: “John was a good friend and a close and trusted colleague and his loss will be felt across the community.
“He recently retired as head teacher of Glebe School in Hunstanton and was elected last August as county councillor for Freebridge Lynn.”
Cllr Colwell, who is running against Conservative James Wild, who has held the seat since the last election in 2019, said John was also active in his charitable work for the Rotary Club in Hunstanton.
“I was recently looking for John and asked somebody where he was,” Cllr Colwell added.
“They turned to me and said ‘I’m not sure. John is everywhere.’
“He will be greatly missed by all those who have known him.”
Upon being elected as county councillor last year, John, who lived in Ringstead, said he was “honoured” and “truly humbled” that the residents of the ward had “placed their trust in me”.
“I’m looking forward to getting started. It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you already and I look forward to meeting many more in the months to come,” he said.
John had also been the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Norfolk police and crime commissioner elections in 2021 \- but the role went to Conservative Giles Orpen-Smellie.
Mr Orpen-Smellie was replaced by Labour’s Sarah Taylor after this year’s vote.
In the last year as county councillor, John campaigned for a 30mph speed limit throughout Castle Rising and took part in litter picks in the area.
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