Malmesbury town councillor Martyn Snell died after losing his battle with cancer at Great Western Hospital, in Swindon, on Saturday.

Coun Snell, 68, was born in Didmarton, Gloucestershire, and moved with his family to Malmesbury in the 1960s. He worked in the building industry and later as a plumber qualifying with Cox and Hall of Tetbury.

He also worked for Malmesbury Borough Council, the water authority and as a roofing contractor.

Coun Snell served as a retained firefighter at Malmesbury Fire Station, in Gloucester Road, joining when it opened in 1969.

He became station commander and retired from the role in 2000.

Later in his career, Coun Snell worked as a hydrant inspector for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, retiring in 2012.

He was a devoted family man. He was married to Liz and he had five children, Judith, Caroline, Nicola, Jonathan and Joanna, as well as 10 grandchildren.

Coun Snell had served on Malmesbury Town Council since 1984 and was mayor in 1985 and 1994.

He was also very proud of his role in the Warden and Freemen of Malmesbury and reached the position of capital burgess. He also took on the role of high steward.

Coun Snell’s hobbies included cataloguing fire insurance marks, DIY, natural history, gardening and architecture. He also enjoyed walking and had climbed Ben Nevis.

Coun Snell will have a private family funeral.

Donations in his memory will be shared between Malmesbury Link Transport and Cancer Research UK.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Matthews Independent Funeral Directors Ltd, 7 Burnham Road, Malmesbury, SN16 0BQ or call (01666) 822216.