Loving tributes have been paid to a former Mayor of Macclesfield , affectionately known as ‘Storming Norman’.

Norman Honsley Edwards served as Mayor of Macclesfield from 2005-2006 and was known as ‘Storming Norman’ for his ability to get things done.

He passed away peacefully after a short illness aged 83.

The former business owner, who lived on Badger Road, Tytherington, also served as a ward councillor in Tytherington for more than 15 years.

During his mayoral year, Norman carried out around 380 engagements, mostly with his wife, Mary, by his side. His sister, Brenda Challinor, 73, said that Norman would want people to remember his laughter and infectious happiness. She said he loved walking.

She said: “When he was serving on the council he was known as ‘Storming Norman’ as when he got his nose into something, he would find a way to get it done.

“He was very much a larger-than-life person.

“Norman was always making people laugh, though he also always worked hard too. He had many, many friends and loved socialising.”

Norman was born in Hill Chorlton, Staffordshire, on January 15, 1930, and moved to the Macclesfield area when he was five.

He worked as engineer for Bosley Wood Treatment and spent two years in the Royal Engineers from 1948.

He was married to wife Mary for 51 years until her death in 2007. In the 1960s they started a tie manufacturing business together – Badger Ties – named after the road where they lived.

It went on to be a local success story, employing more than 30 people. In the early 1980s the business was asked to manufacture a tie for the ‘Think British’ campaign, and also to commemorate the engagement of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

They sold the company in 1988.

Brenda, who lives in Biddulph, said: “He and Mary were a loving and happy couple. Norman was a big golfer, who was president and captain at Macclesfield Golf Club. He was also constantly doing charity work – he was a massive supporter of East Cheshire Hospice and did a lot of work for youths.

“He loved auto-mobiles and always had motorbikes and fast cars.

“At the age of 78 he had a Honda trike and would ride it around Macclesfield.

“He had a bald head and lots of hair around the edges that would blow in the wind.

“He had to sell the bike in the end. If he hadn’t have he said he wanted to be taken to his funeral on the back of a trailer with the trike following behind.”

Hundreds attended his funeral on Monday (October 21) at St Michael’s Parish Church in Macclesfield.