A FORMER chairman of Hambleton District Council has died at the age of 85 following a long illness.
Denis Howey, of Sutton-Under-Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, was council chairman in 2000 and served as a district councillor for 16 years.
He was also a highly committed parish councillor for 30 years, 21 of which he spent as chairman.
Mr Howey was born in Sunderland, beginning his working life as a reporter with the town's evening paper, the Sunderland Echo.
He then joined the family motor business, which was located near Sunderland Football Club's former stadium, Roker Park.
Mr Howey was the UK's first appointed agent for Opel cars in the mid-1960s.
Always a keen worker for charitable causes, he was a former president of both Sunderland and Thirsk Rotary Clubs, having previously been chairman of Sunderland Round Table as well as sitting on the organisation's National Executive.
He leaves his wife Joanne, three sons and seven grandchildren.
A private funeral was held earlier this week.
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