Leyland Ridings MBE, the county’s former education chief, has died aged 85.

He was remembered with a minute’s silence by former colleagues at Kent County Council (KCC) yesterday.

Australian-born Mr Ridings, who was well-respected and universally liked, died on Tuesday evening.

Members also stood for John Kirby, a former member for Ramsgate, who died recently.

Mr Ridings initially settled in the UK with his wife June for medical reasons having lost the sight in one eye during his flying training with the Royal Australian Air Force.

After a long, successful career in business as a chartered accountant and a move to Kent, he was elected to KCC in 1997.

He recalled years later: “My primary interest has been education, starting with early years, foundation, junior, secondary and tertiary.”

KCC Chairman Gary Cooke said that Mr Ridings was “a great friend to many people in this chamber”.

A special section of September’s full council meeting will be given over to tributes to his work.

Cllr Cooke added: “I want to record the sense of loss on the sad passing of both John Kirby and Leyland Ridings.”

Mr Ridings was a Conservative county councillor for the Sandwich division until 2013 and was succeeded by Sue Chandler.

He was appointed MBE for services to local government in the New Year honours list 2011.

In addition to his work as a county councillor, Mr Ridings was an enthusiastic governor of Sandwich Technology College and Canterbury Christchurch University and served as a magistrate in east Kent.

He was a member of the Royal British Legion and a trustee of the Channel Theatre Company. He also served as Chairman of KCC in 2007.