As well as being a legendary newspaperman, Eric Langton was also a passionate advocate of the city where he spent most of his working life – Chester .
The former Chronicle editor-in-chief, who passed away on Thursday (August 4) following a brave battle with cancer, was brought up in Winsford and was proud of his Cheshire roots.
He was a fine ambassador for Chester and dedicated much of his time to promoting the city, both during and after his time working for the Trinity Mirror newspaper group.
After leaving The Chronicle in 2011, Mr Langton spent six months in the council’s press office where he worked with colleagues across the authority.
He became chairman of Chester Renaissance in January 2014 and quickly established it as a valuable asset to business and resident communities.
He played a vital role in supporting the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) and continued to be a real advocate for the model, using his own business contacts in the city to draw support.
He was always a tremendous champion of the city’s new cultural centre and sat on the fundraising board. He brokered the relationship between the council, Storyhouse and MBNA which resulted in a £200,000 annual sponsorship deal. He was also pivotal in securing the project’s Westminster Foundation award.
Charlie Seward, strategic director for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said Mr Langton was 'a passionate champion for the city of Chester'.
He added: "He was not only a colleague to many people within Cheshire West and Chester Council, but a friend. He worked tirelessly for the city that he loved and our thoughts are with his wife Olivia and their family at this incredibly sad time."
