WARM tributes have been paid to a former Birmingham Lord Mayor after he lost his battle with cancer.
Irish-born Mike Nangle was instrumental in reviving the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade in the wake of the 1974 pub bombings.
He was Lord Mayor in 2004/05 and a Birmingham City Council Labour member for 23 years before losing out in Hodge Hill in the 2007 local elections.
Mr Nangle, who died on Saturday, revealed he was fighting pancreatic cancer last November.
Fellow ex-Irish Labour party member Huw McCallion, who spent many of his 35 years on the city council alongside Mr Nangle, said he would be a big loss to the city.
“He was a very dependable family man who would try to do anything to help,” he said.
“His word was his bond and he had integrity coming out of his ears.
“I always admired him because he had a tremendous capacity to work but he would never let it show.
“He would smoke a pipe and enjoy a pint while talking about putting the world right and look totally comfortable doing so.”
Former Perry Barr Labour MP Jeff Rooker hailed Mr Nangle as the authority’s best housing chairman, alongside his predecessor Mr McCallion, during his 27 years on the city council.
He said: “They don’t make councillors like him anymore.
“He was a terrific bloke, and really helpful.”
And the council’s current leisure chief, Liberal Democrat Coun Martin Mullaney, described him as a “great person” who could see past party political boundaries.
“Prior to me becoming a councillor, he always had time to put party politics aside and have a chat with me in the Prince of Wales pub in Moseley,” Coun Mullaney said.
Portadown-born Mr Nangle arrived in the city from Ireland in 1954 and worked as a conductor on Birmingham’s buses before moving into politics.
He admitted it was a ‘great honour’ to serve as Lord Mayor.
Mr Nangle leaves behind his wife, Margaret, and two daughters.
