IT was typical of Geoff Bladon when diagnosed with a terminal illness, to bluntly declare: ‘I’m dying’.

He lived life in no-nonsense, upfront manner, and accepted his looming demise with courage and a complete lack of self pity or anger.

Announcing the inevitable outcome of his liver cancer, the councillor and former mayor told this newspaper he was not afraid of death, and had already planned his funeral service, wake and burial plot ‘overlooking the sea’.

The 69-year-old said his religious beliefs helped him to accept his fate and, ‘at the end of the day I will just close my eyes and join my family’.

He maintained a public presence, attending council meetings and functions, almost to the end. He died last week.

A Conservative, Cllr Bladon came from a local political dynasty – following in the footsteps of his father Arthur, and grandfather Frederick, both councillors.

Tributes have poured in from colleagues on all sides of the political spectrum.

Teignmouth mayor Cllr Terry Falcao, a Lib-Dem, declared: ‘I got to know Geoff in 2007 as I stood in his ward and actually took his place at Teignbridge Council.

‘He was magnanimous in defeat and generous with his advice. He and I shared a police background, and we shared many values and a mutual respect.

‘He retained his town council seat and I confess to having had a few robust encounters with him. This was part of the rough and tumble of local politics, and we would socialise afterward with no hard feelings.

‘He was big enough to accept me and colleagues on the council with whom there were political differences. To his credit, he did not sit on the fence and was not afraid to argue his corner. He never tried to be everybody’s friend, but was a shrewd operator in local politics.

‘He was not afraid of upsetting people, but did not do this gratuitously, because his starting point was always the best interests of the town.

‘I recognised his long political pedigree, and while I did not share his viewpoints on some issues, could never doubt that he loved his hometown of Teignmouth deeply. He was a larger than life figure with charisma and personality. Local politics is somewhat poorer.’

Long-serving councillor Sylvia Russell said if ever there was a family whose name had the word ‘service’ written through it like a stick of rock it was the Bladons.

‘As a police officer, he was well known around town, and because he was a Bladon found himself solving questions about council matters alongside his policing duties, so much so that when he left the force he decided he would stand for council.

‘As mayor, he concentrated his energies and encouraged youngsters to get fit, and formed a soft ball team.

‘When he rejoined the town council last year he was full of ideas. He will be sadly missed by his friends, colleagues and all who knew him’.

Lib-Dem councillor David Cox said that as chairman of the town council finance and general purposes committee, Cllr Bladon worked extremely hard to unite the council and indeed the community, and had largely succeeded in bringing together different points of view to benefit the town.

‘He built trust between people. I believe that is going to be one of Geoff’s important legacies.’

Younger son Martin, who was also a councillor for a time, said he gave so much to so many people, never once asking for anything in return.

‘During his six-month battle with cancer, he still continued to put his family first and not once complained at the situation he found himself in.

‘His true love though, was his family and he could never do enough for them. He was the best husband, father, son, brother and grandfather you could ever ask for and will leave a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.

‘He achieved more in 69 years than most could do in two lifetimes and his legacy will live on.’

Cllr Bladon leaves a wife, Linda, of 45 years, children Nick and Martin, mother Marjorie, brother Gregory, daughter-in-laws Katie and Sarah, and grandchildren Florence, Georgina and Isabella.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 16, at Our Lady and St Patrick’s Church at 11.30am, followed by a wake at the Tradewinds Restaurant.