Tributes paid after death of former Hackney Labour councillor Steve Scott

Steve Scott, a former Hackney Labour councillor, council representative to the NHS and shop owner, has died aged 92.

Former colleagues and councillors this week paid tribute to Scott, who represented Dalston ward and Brownswood ward in the 1970s and 1980s.

Scott initially ran a chemists on the Narrow Way and added travel agency Easton Travel in 1958 as travel became more popular and accessible to Hackney locals.

After moving to live in Victoria ward on the Christ Church Estate, Steve was an active member of the Peabody Victoria Park residents’ and community association (then known as the Crown’s Victoria Park residents association), and was active in his local Labour party.

As an elected councillor, he went on to chair the Social Services, Finance, and Libraries and Amenities committees, and was the council’s main representative on local NHS bodies, with his commitment to the health service continuing for years after his retirement from the council.

Former chair of Victoria ward Labour Party and colleague Joannie Andrews said: “He was certainly committed to making life better for the people in his community and was a long standing and active member of the Labour Party.”

Cllr Ian Rathbone, chair of Hackney Labour Group of Councillors, added: “Steve was a solid councillor and worked hard for the people in his ward. He was a good administrator. He also set up a travel agency used by many people across Hackney to take their first holidays abroad.”

He is survived by a son Adam and daughter Hilary.