Motorcycle escort set to honour the life of Hartlepool campaigner

Keith Fisher sadly died at around 9pm on last Tuesday at James Cook University Hospital as a result of complications following open heart surgery.

The dad-of-one, 76, had been instrumental in the Save Our Hospital Group as its chairman, which campaigned to keep emergency services open at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

He leaves behind his son Mike Fisher, 45, granddaughter Rachael, 20, and daughter-in-law Melanie Fisher, who are from Hartlepool.

Keith was known to have had a love of fast cars and motorbikes, making the motorcycle escort a fitting tribute at his funeral service, which is set to be held on Friday, August 24, at St Andrew's Church in Blackhall.

The service will be held at 2.15pm, followed by cremation at 3.30pm at Durham.

Keith was known to own a number of bikes which he enjoyed riding right up until his final days.

Paying tribute to his dad, Mike recently told the Mail: "He has been a motorcyclist all of his life and always told me how at the age of 16 he would got to school on his bike.

"It's incredible that a 76-year-old man of his size was still riding one of the best sports bikes ever - a Yamaha R1."

"He always taught me to never give in and keep fighting until the end.

"One thing he was very proud of was that he was a qualified engineer.

"He was a great mechanic, role model and best mate.

"I am very proud of the work he did with the hospital campaign."

Hospital campaign group says stalwart’s death is ‘massive loss’

Born in Hetton on December 4, 1942, Keith was spent the majority of his working life in Hartlepool, moving to the town in 1978.

He married his late wife Elaine - a fellow hospital campaigner - on her 21st birthday at on May 25, 1966 at St Andrew's Church in Blackhall. Sadly, Elaine died suddenly back in 2014, and it was then that Mr Fisher's family said he seemed to have lost his fight for the campaign.

Mr Fisher was a dedicated magistrate in Hartlepool for 20 years, retiring at the compulsory age of 70.

He was the chair of the bench of magistrates training and a magistrate representative for Cleveland Police Authority.

He was the president of the Hartlepool Labour Party, spending 10 years with the party before leaving to become an Independent ward councillor for Hart.

He was elected in the May 2012 elections and served in that capacity until the May 2014 elections, when he was defeated.

He was Chair of the Council’s Audit & Governance Committee 2013-14, a member of the Council’s Planning Committee 2012-13 and 2013-14, a member of the Council’s Regeneration Services Committee 2013-14.

He was on the Adult Services Committee 2013-14 and a member of the Council’s North & Coastal Neighbourhood Forum 2012-13 and 2013-14.