ECR Member Cllr Robert Gordon CBE, who had been fighting cancer, passed away in October of this year. He had been the leader of Hertfordshire County Council in the UK since 2007 and was awarded his CBE by the Queen for his services to local government. He was first elected to the county council in 1989 and had been a member of the European Committee of the Regions since 26 January 2015. He was also the first chairman of the Hertfordshire Police Authority between 1995 and 1997, and has served as an NHS non-executive director. Many have already paid tribute to him from across the political spectrum. He was a source of inspiration for many and a much loved colleague who will be missed dearly.