A PEDESTRIAN who died following a crash in Wareham has been named as former Dorset County Council leader Reverend Colin Hodge.

The 76-year-old died as the result of a collision with a black Vauxhall Astra at around 11.45am on Tuesday, January 19 in Howard’s Lane.

Rev Hodge, who lived in Wareham, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment.

He died during the night of Sunday, January 24.

His family issued a statement through Dorset Police this afternoon.

It reads: “We are all devastated at the loss of Colin and he will be missed so much by everyone who knew him.

“He was a well-known figure in his local community and we wish to thank all those who assisted at the time of the incident and the medical teams at Poole Hospital that cared for him prior to his death.

“We would request privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

Rev Hodge served as council leader for eight years. He represented Wareham.

During his time in office, he was particularly concerned with education, and in October 1992 made an “unprecedented” public call to MPs for more funding to be provided to schools.

He entered local politics at an early age, becoming Wareham’s youngest mayor in 1967 at the age of 28. Ordained in 1984, he served in Wareham, Parkstone, Lilliput and Poole.

Rev Hodge was also known in his hometown for running the Wareham Bookshop with wife Sue for many years. 

He officiated at the funeral of ex-Bournemouth Echo editor Neal Butterworth, who died in 2013.