Reg Collins, former chairman of Brompton Parish Council, unexpectedly died in hospital on December 1 following a short illness.

Reg, 77, was extremely well known in Brompton and Northallerton and further afield.

He served on Brompton Parish Council for very many years until 2010 and was at one time its chairman.

Living at Water End, Brompton, Reg took a very keen interest in his local environment and was especially active assisting the flood prevention group during the 2000s when the village was hit by repeated floods.

A very practical man, Reg took on the role of village caretaker, often at the forefront in carrying out repair works such as in the Recreation Ground and in walking the local footpaths to make sure that they weren’t obstructed.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Tributes have been paid to Reg Collins

His passion for many years was supporting the local football team in Brompton where he held the positions of team manager and chairman over the years. He could regularly be found at matches in all weathers with a linesman's flag in his hand.

When Brompton Football Club found that it could no longer play its games at Stonecross as the Hambleton District Council offices were to be built on the pitches Reg was the pivotal interlocutor in persuading Brompton Council to approach Hambleton District Council to purchase land in the village from a local landowner.

Today, Weavers Pavilion occupies that land on Station Road and it is also the permanent home of the current football pitches in the village.

Reg was a font of knowledge on many subjects and would stop and talk to anyone. Being a mechanical engineer employed in the repair and servicing of dairy machinery there wasn’t much that Reg couldn’t apply himself to.

He served on the Brompton Village Hall Committee as a trustee and was instrumental in the successes of the Whitsuntide Sports Committee (now the Brompton Carnival Committee) for many years, organising the Brompton Gymkhana as well as being on the founding committee of the Brompton Players.

Reg was married to Lilian for 44 years and leaves a daughter, Hayley.

His funeral was held on Wednesday, December 20 at St Thomas’ Church Brompton.