GEOFF DAVIESGeoff Davies, who died on September 29, 2007, after contracting a superbug, was the former leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.The 72-year-old, who lived in Blurton, died three weeks after developing Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff) at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.Mr Davies had already fought back from another deadly bug, MRSA, in 2002 and had stepped down from the council two years later due to ill health.He had also suffered from diabetes and problems with his heart, liver and circulation. It was during his latest stay at the University Hospital that he was diagnosed with C-Diff.Mr Davies’s son Adrian, aged 47, said his health had deteriorated since he caught the infection, which causes diarrhoea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis, three weeks ago.Today, He paid tribute to his father, who was a councillor for Fenton from 1999 to 2004.He said: "He devoted pretty much all of his spare time to trying to sort things out for the best of the community. He was very much a people’s man and he wanted to cut down on the red tape of democracy."Former Bentilee and Townsend councillor John Davis, a close friend of Mr Davies, said: "He was a big man, over 6ft 2in. But he was not only big in stature, he had a big heart. He was very community-spirited and he was always a person who could make people laugh."He was a member of the North Staffs Pensioners’ Convention and he spoke out on many issues that affect elderly people. I miss him terribly."Councillor Brian Ward, who succeeded Mr Davies as leader of the city council’s Independent group in 2004, also paid tribute.He said: "Geoff was a major player in creating the situation we have now in Stoke-on-Trent. The Independent group is now the second largest political group on the council and that is thanks to people like Geoff Davies."He was an outspoken man and he was always a comedian. He was the sort of person people would always go to with their troubles."Roger Ibbs, leader of the Conservative and Independent Alliance for the council, said: "He was leader of the council and I was deputy and we struck up an extremely friendly relationship. Our wives became friends and we spent time together as families."I am extremely sad to hear of his death. I knew he was unwell, and had been in and out of hospital, but one never expects the worst."Geoff always acted in the best interests of Stoke-on-Trent and the people of this city. I shall miss him. My sympathies, and that of the council, go out to his wife, Kath, and family."Mr Davies contracted MRSA when he was admitted to the then North Staffordshire Hospital for routine knee replacement surgery.He should have been discharged from the hospital five days after his surgery, but he did not return to his home for another month and had to walk on crutches for a further two months.Mr Davies, who worked for Michelin for 17 years and used to run the Springfield Hotel, a Trent Vale pub, is survived by his wife Kathleen, aged 71, his two sons, Adrian and Tim, aged 44, and three grandchildren.
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