TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-serving town councillor who was Norton Mayor five times.
Keith Mennell passed away on Saturday in York Hospital following a long illness.
He became a councillor in 1969 when he joined Norton Urban District Council, thanks to the encouragement of work colleagues who were also members.
Mr Mennell, who was 84, first served as mayor in 1977 and has also been on a number of committees, including road safety and the Norton Dispensary Fund.
He was honoured with one of the first Freeman of Norton-on-Derwent awards in 2012 and decided to resign from the town council the following year after his wife, Cynthia, died.
Mr Mennell’s son John said he had helped him set up his business Mennell Motors, based in Malton nd had also been chairman of Malton and Norton Motor Club.
“He is going to be missed throughout Norton as everyone in the town knew him,” he added.
“One of the most memorable things we did was build his house in Welham Road which was a real tribute to him.”
John said: “Dad was old school and he always put the residents first. He was very much a Norton man.”
Mayor of Norton Coun Ray King said: “Keith was a gentleman in very sense of the word. He welcomed and assisted me when I joined the council and was very supportive when I became mayor.
“Keith’s local knowledge and enthusiasm were a great asset to the council. He worked hard for the community of Norton and will be sadly missed.”
Mr Mennell also leaves a grandson Daniel.
His funeral will be held at St Peter’s Church in Norton at 11am on Monday, August 24.
