FORMER editors of the Star have paid tribute to former councillor and popular figure Wally Ashcroft, who died earlier this month.

Wally, from Windle, was a former Conservative councillor for the area, serving at the town hall for more than 12 years.

He was a former leader of the Tory party in the borough and an ex-St Helens Council cabinet member.

He passed away aged 84 on Sunday, May 5 in Whiston Hospital following a bout of low blood pressure which had periodically affected the granddad-of-five in the previous six months.

Wally, who became well known as the owner of Pet’s Emporium, leaves behind wife Nancy and three children.

Ex-Star editor and columnist Alan Whalley, who had been a friend since childhood this week described Wally as a "legendary personality to everyone who knew him."

Alan said: "His was a lifetime of adventure, responding keenly to any worthwhile challenge. He fought for many townsfolk who sought him out with a worry or a grievance during his 12 years as a St Helens councillor.

"He'd formed a Tory town hall bond with wife Nancy. During an enthusiastic life he had succeeded as a salesman and in later years established two pet stores, in St Helens and at Sutton.

"His son David took them over when Wally decided to retire. Wally has two other children, daughter Lisa and son Duncan and five grandchildren."

Wally added: "A hefty six-footer, Wally played energetic rugby union as a young man, his elder brother Alan becoming an international.

"An active politician, he was a charity supporter, a keen artist and writer, a lover of choir music and outdoor pursuits. Up to recently he dug happily on his allotment.

"He loved to play snooker at Windle Bowling Club and was delighted to be unanimously chosen as the club president.

"He was a great councillor, never letting politics get in the way.

"Wally's sense of fun, that beaming smile and his witticisms and down to earth wisdom will live on to all who knew him.

"I'll always remember him."

Meanwhile, Steve Leary, Alan's successor, paid his own tribute to Wally, describing him as a "no-nonsense grizzly bear of a man".

He said: "Long before he became a respected councillor, Wally Ashcroft’s big smile beamed out from the St Helens Star every week as he shared his animal expertise with our readers.

"His Wonder of Pets feature was a must-read fixture in the days when the Star boasted a clutch of entertaining and informative columnists.

"Passionate about animals and their wellbeing, hundreds of hedgehogs probably owed their survival to Wally who annually gave tips to readers how to help these garden visitors get through the winter months.

"Whether it was gerbils, budgies, dogs, cats or reptiles, he was a one-man databank of essential wisdom. Readers would often head for his businesses, The Pets Emporium in the town centre and Sutton Corn Store, to pick his brain.

"It’s probably little known that he was the go-to guy for police when confronted by awkward critters. On one occasion he had to snare a python in a flat whose owner had died suddenly, leaving the snake slithering loose."

Steve added: "I’ll remember him as a no-nonsense grizzly bear of a man who loved to laugh his way through life.

"But he wasn’t joking when he fired back at council big guns in a health and safety battle which he viewed as political correctness gone nuts.

"For years Wally had raised funds for guide dogs with the help of a lifesize doggy collection ’statue’ which he hauled out onto the pavement outside the Pets Emporium every morning for shoppers to toss in their spare coins.

"Out of the blue he had an order slapped on him to remove the offending charity pooch as it 'constituted a trip hazard'. Wally fought the ban ’tooth and claw’.

"It was that bureaucratic intransigence, as he saw it, that probably propelled him into the political arena to take up the fight for Joe Public.

"Animal expert Wally discovered a new mission in life, championing ordinary St Helens people who often felt their voice was not being heard.

"Wally spoke up loud and clear for all of us."