A former Salisbury city councillor and mayor has passed away, it has been announced.

In a tweet, Salisbury City Council announced "with much regret" the passing of Salisbury's 752nd Mayor, Cllr John Collier.

Cllr Collier became a Conservative councillor for Harnham in 2009 and acted as mayor of the city in 2013.

According to the city council, John had mostly lived in Harnham since 1980 and was widowed in 2010.

Born in Leicester, he grew up in Sussex and was educated at Hove Grammar School. 

He was awarded a place at RAF College, Cranwell where he studied aeronautics and learned to fly.

Awarded his ‘wings’ and a permanent commission, he served a full career in the RAF in both flying (fast-jets) and ground appointments until retiring as a Group Captain in 1998.

On leaving the Service, he was then able to follow his interest in local politics and was first elected to the former Salisbury District Council in 1999 representing Harnham until standing down in 2007.

In 2009, he was again elected to represent Harnham on the newly-formed Salisbury City Council.

In 2012-13, John served as Salisbury’s 752nd Mayor.

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.