Public respects paid to a champion of Ludlow (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Public respects paid to a champion of Ludlow

8:00am Sunday 21st June 2009

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LUDLOW town centre was at a standstill on Tuesday.

More than 100 people stopped to say farewell to the former town Mayor Graeme Kidd, who died at the age of 52 after a tragic accident at home.

It had originally been thought that he had suffered a heart attack but it was subsequently revealed that he broke his neck after falling down the stairs in the early hours of Sunday, May 31.

Mr Kidd, who was Mayor of Ludlow for four years between 2003 and 2007, was given the first civic funeral to take place in Ludlow for more than 20 years.

Civic leaders, led by the present Mayor Martin Taylor- Smith, and friends walked in procession behind the coffin as it was taken from his home in Corve Street to Ludlow’s historic St Leonard’s Church.

His coffin was covered in the town flag as it made its way through the town to a service conducted by the Vicar of Ludlow, Preb Brian Curnew.

A pint of beer was carried behind his coffin as a symbol of the former Mayor’s love of good food and drink.

Rev Curnew told a packed church, which was bathed in early summer sunshine, that Ludlow had lost a great champion at a local, national and international level.

“He had a passionate commitment to this town, its people and to its quality of life,” he said.

“In times of difficulties, Graeme would always be looking for a way through and to draw the positives out of any situation.”

Mr Kidd, who leaves a wife Sally and two sons, Alasdair and Warwick, was at the heart of Ludlow life since moving to the town from London, where he worked in publishing.

He was a leading figure in the establishment of the Ludlow Food Festival and was instrumental in the first spring festival this year.

As a businessman, he was a major figure in Ludlow Chamber of Trade and played a central role in establishing the Cittaslow movement.

Coun Taylor-Smith said consideration was being given to a memorial.

“I considered Graeme a good friend but I want to hear ideas from other people, including those who knew him better than I did, before we make a decision,” he said.

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