THE county is in mourning this week as tributes flood in for a charismatic Hereford fishmonger, former rugby club player and county and city councillor who died suddenly at the weekend.
Councillor David Benjamin, 56, a well known figure in the community, was rushed to hospital on Friday night after suffering a massive heart attack and died at around 5.30am on Sunday morning.
He leaves his wife Nina Gustavsson, three children Robert, Nicholas and Anna, his mother Joyce and younger brother Jimmy.
He was a popular figure in the Butter Market where he worked in the family fishmongers D J Benjamin & Sons having succeeded his father Tom into the business. The family declined the offer from Hereford City Council of a civic funeral in favour of a civic memorial service to be held at a later date. Instead the city council will support a funeral to be held at Hereford Cathedral on Friday, July 30, at 2pm and will host a reception in the Shire Hall after the service.
Family friend Cllr Mark Hubbard said: “Dave was a true Herefordian, not just born and bred here but had the interests of the city and county in his heart. He was a lovely and gentle man and will be sadly missed.”
Leader of the city council Kevin Wargen told the Journal: “His family are distraught, this is such a shock to everyone. He really was a terrific councillor who was well respected and liked by everyone.
“David had only been a city councillor for three years but during that time he had not only represented his ward (St Nicholas) but many other residents of Herefordshire. He very often led debate on the state of the city centre, a passion David would not let us forget, and he always urged us to remember how important the centre of Hereford was.
Whilst he was only on the council for a short time David has driven the Council City plan wanting to see the Council take on more responsibility and give more value to the Council tax payers of the City.”
Guy Griffiths, Honorary Chairman of Hereford Rugby Club, where former player David had been an active member and the “life and soul of the club” for many years said: “He was a true friend, not only to his family and Hereford Rugby Club, but to many other Herefordians. He will be sadly missed by many players, past and present, not only in Hereford but throughout the county and the Midlands RFU, as well as all who knew him in the city. People come and go, but we will never be able to replace so charismatic a character as David Benjamin.”
Jesse Norman joined in the tributes saying: “Dave Benjamin was Hereford through and through - a wonderful man with a huge heart. He had a deep love for this city and for its well-being. It was an absolute privilege to have known him. We, and the city, are all far poorer for his passing.”