TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayor of Tameside who collapsed and died on his way to work last week.

Father-of-three Frank Robinson was mayor of the borough in 1999 and 2000. He was 55.

The Labour councillor, a wheelie bin sales manager for German firm SSI Schaefer, was due to fly from Manchester Airport to Southampton where a driver was waiting to pick him up. When he failed to arrive the driver raised the alarm.

A colleague rang Coun Robinson's family and was later told he had collapsed and died in hospital.

His family were too upset to comment.

Coun Robinson, who was Tameside Council's executive member for tourism, was instrumental in setting up the popular Tameside Food and Drink festival and St George's Day celebrations. He was also a former chairman of environmental health and technical services committees.

He was not up for election next month.

A spokesman for Tameside Council said: "Coun Frank Robinson was a respected member of the community in Stalybridge.

'Sympathy'

"A passionate Stalybridge Celtic fan, Coun Robinson had been a Tameside councillor since 1982 and was mayor of the borough in 1999 and 2000. He will be sorely missed, and the council offers its deepest sympathy to his family at this time."

Peter Welby-Everard, a work colleague at SSI Schaefer and friend of more than 20 years, said: "He was a considerable character and successful sales manager who will be sorely missed.

"I had enormous respect for him and he is a person I will never forget. He had incredible enthusiasm and was very hardworking. I have extremely happy memories of him."

Coun Robinson spent the first 24 years of his life in Mossley, moving to Stalybridge in 1974.

He began working at the CPA factory in Carrbrook - now known as Calprina.

In 1987 he moved to SSI Schaefer as a sales manager.

He is survived by his partner Glennys Hammond and three children.

The date of Coun Robinson's funeral has yet to be confirmed.

DID you know Coun Robinson? Pay your tributes here.