The leader of Hertfordshire County Council passed away unexpectedly yesterday, this paper had been informed.

The council issued a statement to its members on Friday afternoon saying Robert Gordon CBE had passed away “peacefully”.

It read: “It is with great sadness I write to advise you that leader of the council, Robert Gordon, has passed away this afternoon. I understand it was peaceful, however, there is very little detail and I will make sure you are kept informed of any arrangements.”

David Lloyd – Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, who served as Mr Gordon’s deputy leader on HCC from 2007 to 2012 – issued a statement today saying: “Rob was a great friend and an inspirational leader for Hertfordshire from whom I learned so much. His passing will come as a shock to many and I will miss him dearly. We will never quite fill the hole that he has left behind – but his memorial is a county shaped to his plan and seen as one of the best places to live and work in the country.

“My thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this sad time.”

The flag at County Hall is flying at half mast as a mark of respect to Mr Gordon who was first elected to the council in 1989 and held cabinet posts for education, children’s services and resources and performance before becoming the council’s leader in 2007.

Mr Gordon had represented Goffs Oak and Bury Green wards as a county councillor since 2009.

He received a CBE from the Queen in 2012 for his services to local government.

Long-serving Stevenage councillor Robin Parker, who represents Chells division for HCC, said: “I knew Robert Gordon as a fellow county councillor for over 12 years. In the council chamber, he was an eloquent and erudite speaker, who was able persuasively to make a case for a given course of action fluently and often without notes. Whilst we naturally disagreed on some issues of policy, he was always well informed and on top of his brief. He worked hard for the county, and represented Hertfordshire on many outside bodies. My thoughts are naturally with his family.”