A town's residents have paid tribute to a popular former mayor who has died following a long illness.

Eighty-year-old former mayor of Looe Sidney Gardner died on Sunday, December 28. He was the longest-serving mayor of the modern council and well-respected by colleagues and people in the town.

'The very sad news of his death has left the town of Looe in a state of shock,' said current Looe mayor Ron Overd.

'Sid was a stalwart within the town and beyond, a man of undoubted honesty and integrity who served the town for a great number of years as a town, district and county councillor.'

The ex-Royal Engineers veteran, whose wife and former mayoress Margaret also died a few months ago in September, will be sorely missed by his children Valerie and Colin, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mr Gardner served the town as mayor between 1990 and 1996 after originally coming to Looe as an employee of the railway and settling in Hannafore with his wife.

Paying tribute to Mr Gardner, current mayor Ron Overd said: 'Although he was not a Looe man he was, without any shadow of doubt, a man of Looe, much-respected by all who knew him, and a true and lasting friend to the town.

'Looe has not had a better public servant and his wise counsel will be missed by all who knew him and the people of Looe. God bless him and his family, may he rest in peace now that his day's work is done.'

Burgess

Mr Gardner was involved in many local organisations, including the East and West Looe Town Trusts. The great-grandfather was also president of Polperro Fishermen's Choir and was at one time president of the bowling club in the town, as well as being a member of Looe and Polperro football and cricket clubs. Looe appointed Sid as an honorary burgess in 2006 in recognition of his work on behalf of the town.

'He took an immense interest in Looe and the area, as will be evident from the great many organisations he was invited to become a member of, and he gave of his time and his many talents freely and with enthusiasm,' added Mr Overd.

The funeral service will take place at the Glynn Valley Crematorium, Bodmin, on Friday, January 16, at 12.30pm.

This will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at the Riverside United Church, West Looe, at 2pm.

It is requested that only family members should bring along flowers to the these service and that anybody who wishes to should make a donation in memory of Sid to the charities Cancer Research or The Alz-heimer's Society.