"I was very saddened learn about the death of Julian Cummins over the weekend. I was Julian's deputy when he was the Chair of the Regional party in the mid 90s. His enthusiasm and professionalism were evident to all who worked with him.
"It was his encouragement and support which, in no little measure, gave me the self-belief to seek election as a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament in 1999.
"He was a man of many parts given his enormous range of interests and his death will be mourned by very many people right across the region."
