Tributes paid to Norfolk county councillor Derek Blake who was found dead by police

Derek Blake at home cooking Korean food. (Image: Archant © 2010)

The body of Derek Blake, 78, was found by police outside his property on the outskirts of Bergh Apton at around 7am yesterday.

In a statement, Norfolk Police said its officers had been responding a call regarding the resident at the time.

His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from friends and colleagues, who has been praised as 'a wonderful man'.

Mr Blake had served on South Norfolk Council for more than a decade, was this year elected to the county council for the first time, as member for Loddon division, and had also been chairman of Bergh Apton Parish Council since 2011. Only hours before his death, he had signed off the annual accounts for Bergh Apton council on Monday night.

John Fuller, leader of South Norfolk Council, led tributes to the father-of-four, who was elected to the authority as the same time as him in May 2003, and he counted as a close friend.

'I canvassed him for the first time and we ended up becoming colleagues,' said Mr Fuller. 'I'm staggered, really.

'Here's a man with a successful international business career, still with an appetite for hard work and public service.

'He had a wide circle of friends.

'He was signing off the parish accounts yesterday [Monday]; he was always there to do the work. He worked damn hard.

'He really will be missed.

'He's a character with public service at his heart and he's going to leave a Derek-shaped hole in the council, as he gave so much.'

Mr Blake was vice president of Brooke Cricket Club, did valuable work for the NHS and was a leading light in environmental charity Wren, Mr Fuller said. Before he settled back in Norfolk, his career in the electrical and power industry took him all over the world.

'He had a high level international business career but he never forgot his roots, and when he retired he came back here,' added Mr Fuller.

Mr Blake was vice chairman of the planning committee on South Norfolk Council, and wanted the best for local people.

'He had a repulsion for bog-standard housing,' said Mr Fuller. 'He was a stickler for detail - nothing was second best.'

Richard Bacon, Conservative MP for South Norfolk, added: 'He was a marvellous representative locally.'

Mr Bacon described how he had ensured that community money from a waste recycling scheme was spent in the community. He added. 'I opened the Loddon squash club with him only a few months ago, I remember doing the gymnasium in the centre of Loddon with the extra gym equipment. And another refurbishment.

'These are just some examples of the kind of things I used to do all the time with Derek because he was so prolific in finding money for these community schemes, in getting the money, making the thing happen with the local people in whichever village it was. I would go along and cut the ribbon with him but the only reason I was there was because of Derek.

'He was just a very very active and prolific councillor. He was just a wonderful, wonderful man. He was a terrific guy.'

As well as his role on South Norfolk Council, Mr Blake was also a member of the county council's policy and resources committee.

Cliff Jordan, leader of the Conservative Group on Norfolk County Council, said: 'He was a pleasant fella and my sympathies go out to his family.

'I really was shocked to hear it.

'He was really enthusiastic and was on the policy and resources committee with me.'

George Nobbs, leader of Norfolk County Council, said: 'Although Derek was a new member of Norfolk County Council, I looked forward to him making a very positive contribution to the Authority.

'During our very short acquaintanceship, I found him both a very likeable and enthusiastic person. My sympathies are with his family at this terrible time.'

Neighbour Miranda Stephens, who had known Mr Blake for five years, said: 'It is a huge shock.

'He was only here for supper the other day, I just can't believe it.

'He was fantastic in what he achieved for this community.

''He was an amazing man and he had masses of friends.

'He seemed to be happy and normal, always charming and always busy.'

Mr Fuller was hoping to organise a wake so that people could pay tribute to him.

Following the incident yesterday morning, a police Twitter feed praised the responses of officers. Inspector Lou Provart wrote: 'My South Norfolk team were today faced with an incredibly challenging job at the scene of a sudden, currently unexplained death.' He added: 'Their professionalism was of the highest order in a job that we do on behalf of the public.'

A Norfolk police spokesman said: 'Officers attended a residential property in... Bergh Apton ... after a receiving a call regarding the resident. The body of a man, thought to be in his 70s, was found outside the property.

'His death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will now be prepared for HM Coroner and an inquest will open in due course.'

Do you want to pay tribute to Mr Blake? Email samuel.russell@archant.co.uk