MIDDLEWICH will pay tribute to stalwart town clerk Jonathan Williams on Monday night.

The scheduled town council meeting at the Victoria Buildings will go ahead with an amended format, offering council staff, members and residents to pay their respects.

Jonathan, who had served as town clerk since the age of 23, sadly died while on holiday on September 11.

A council spokesman said: "The shock of the passing of Jonathan Williams, town clerk for 34 years, is still being felt within the council.

"However, Jonathan would have been the first person to insist that council business cannot stop completely, and we do have some business which cannot wait until next month.

"We are therefore going to amend the format of the council meeting on Monday, rather than cancel it completely.

"Part 1 of the meeting will give an opportunity for councillors, council staff and residents to pay their respects to Jonathan and share fond memories.

"We will also have a Book of Condolence for people to sign on the night should they wish to.

"This will then be available in the Council Offices from the Tuesday should residents wish to sign but cannot attend the meeting.

"The meeting will then move into Part 2, which will allow the council to discuss pressing matters.

"All other items from Part 1, including public forum questions and member’s items will be deferred until the next full meeting on October 21."

Tributes have already flooded in for Jonathan, whose service in his hometown led many to dub him 'Mr Middlewich'.

A council statment earlier in the week said: "His knowledge and experience has proved invaluable for many generations of councillors and council staff, and his passion for Middlewich, its heritage and its events will leave a huge gap that we will struggle to fill.”