Tributes have been paid to a community champion who has died after a short illness.
Ken Hulme, a parish councillor in Saddleworth, died at Royal Oldham hospital yesterday, aged 62.
The well-known activist – who campaigned against a controversial wind turbine proposal -had served on the parish council for nine years and was due to take on the role of chairman.
He leaves his wife Hannah and teenage son George.
Mrs Hulme said: "He had been ill for a short time and this has come as a great shock to his family and friends.
"Ken was active in many campaigns including successfully defending Saddleworth from wind turbines, campaigning on traffic issues, supporting relatives with concerns about the future of the independent graveyard, fighting to keep Delph library in open and successfully fundraising for new facilities.
"He also helped a great number of individuals who came to him with personal problems."
Coun Hulme of Seven Acres, Delph, represented his village as an independent member of the parish council.
He had previously been a councillor in London before he moved back to his home town in 2001.
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Saddleworth Peace Movement wishes to pay tribute to Ken Hulme, who was a committed peace and political campaigner. He became active with Saddleworth Peace Movement and Greater Manchester CND when he returned in 2001 to the area where he was born.
Ken had ancestors on both sides at Peterloo, an officer and a demonstrator, the latter perhaps being a model for how Ken was to lead his life as a campaigner. He attended numerous anti-war, anti-Trident replacement and pro-Palestinian rights demonstrations in Oldham, Manchester and further afield, often carrying the Saddleworth Peace Movement banner.
He and a small team of regulars organised the annual Saddleworth Hiroshima Day peace walks and Holocaust Memorial Day Vigils and numerous other events.
As a councillor on Saddleworth Parish Council, Ken was a vociferous and articulate campaigner on local issues in his Delph and Denshaw ward, issuing frequent emails to keep his constituents informed and involved, and sending questions and press releases to a variety of local, transport, environmental and other authorities.
His death leaves a big hole in the political life of Saddleworth, and Oldham, that cannot be filled.
Never met Ken but we did share correspondence from time to time.I always found him to be a genuine and honest helpful guy,who would go the extra mile to help people and support a cause that he believed in. I am very sorry to hear of his death and express my deepest sympathies to all of his family and friends. RIP Ken you will be missed. Best wishes to your kith and kin.