Former Devizes town and Kennet district councillor Peter Cousins has died aged 80.
Mr Cousins, of Brickley Lane, was also a volunteer for Devizes PHAB (Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied) and the good neighbour scheme Link.
He was born and brought up in Croydon and, as a schoolboy during the war, was evacuated to Tilshead in Wiltshire.
He joined REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and saw service abroad towards the end of the Second World War.
After leaving the regular army he joined the Territorials and worked as an engineer for about ten years with Devizes builders W E Chivers. He then moved to Avon Rubber in Melksham where he worked until he retired at 65.
He met his wife Marie at Devizes Carnival and the couple married in 1947 at St James' Church, Devizes. Marie used to work as an usherette at the former Regal Cinema.
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On retirement, he became a voluntary driver for Devizes PHAB and Devizes Link, taking people to hospital and other appointments. He was chairman of Link twice.
Ray Taylor, a Labour Party colleague and now chairman of Devizes Link, said: "Pete Cousins had a real social conscience. Over many years he made a considerable voluntary contribution to a variety of community activities. Above all Pete was good company, sincere and reliable, never leaving anything undone or incomplete."
Mr Cousins was a Kennet District councillor from 1995 to 1999 for Devizes East. During this time he served on environmental services, planning, personnel and transportation committees.
He was also a town councillor from 1994 to 2003.
He served on the committee of the Devizes branch of the Royal British Legion and proudly took part in Remembrance Day parades in Devizes. He also visited battlefield sites abroad.
He was an active member of the Wyvern Club in Church Walk and his hobbies included skittles and bowls and he was a member of Holt Bowls Club.
He was also interested in steam engines and he had a miniature model railway in his attic.
Mr Cousins had prostate cancer two years ago and was successfully treated. But just four weeks ago he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, on March 11.
Mr and Mrs Cousins had a son and daughter. Gill died four years ago and Ian, together with his wife and children, live in Finland.
The funeral is at St John's Church, Devizes, next Thursday, March 27, at noon followed by a private cremation.
Family flowers only but donations are requested for Cancer Research UK c/o John Stuart funeral directors.
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