TRIBUTES have been paid to a Brentwood businessman and community supporter who has died aged 76.
Alan Cherry, CBE, was awarded an MBE in the 1984 New Year’s Honours List, and awarded a CBE in 2003 for Services to Housing and Urban Regeneration. In 2002, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Essex and in 1991 was elected an Honorary Member of The Royal Town Planning Institute.
Mr Cherry (pictured) was also heavily involved in the regeneration of Brentwood's town centre.
Mr Cherry was the Founder Chairman of Countryside Properties PLC, which has its headquarters in Brentwood and also sat on a number of working groups, and until recently was chairman of the Sustainable Development Round Table affiliated to the Government Office for the East of England.
Brentwood Council leader, Cllr Louise McKinaly said: “Alan was highly involved in the Borough of Brentwood. He was a great supporter of the local economy and was involved in many community projects.
“On a personal level, I had great admiration for him. I found his support and sound advice immensely valuable. He will be greatly missed by the Council and the residents of the Borough and I’d like to send my condolences to his family at this time.”
Chairman of the Council's Economic Development Panel, Cllr Phil Baker, said: “Alan lived and worked in Brentwood and was passionate about the Borough. He founded the former Brentwood Enterprise Agency, which provided a range of advice and support services for new small businesses in the area. His death it is a great loss to the Borough. Our thoughts are with his family.”