A FORMER mayor who served residents as a councillor for 20 years and was described as a “great Colcestrian” has died.

Westley Sandford, MBE, was made an alderman after serving three stints as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Abbey, Lexden and Shrub End.

He was a key player in a number of groups and organisations, including the Colchester Community Fund, and was made an MBE by the Queen in 2000 for services to the community life of Colchester.

Former MP Sir Bob Russell knew Mr Sandford for 55 years after meeting him at Headgate Congregational Church, which is now the Headgate Theatre.

He said: “Westley said he was a deliberate Colcestrian, in as much that his mother insisted on returning to Colchester to give birth.

“He was proud of this, and the town should be proud of what he contributed to the life of our town, and his service to the nation, over nine decades.”

Mr Sandford attended St John’s Green Primary School and Colchester Royal Grammar School with a scholarship.

Gazette:

At 18, he joined the Royal Navy and spent the Second World War on ships escorting the convoy which carried supplies from the UK to the Soviet Union, braving 70ft waves and freezing temperatures.

Sir Bob said: “I recall him talking about this and, to my amazement, his time as a boxer while in the Navy, something which I guess few will be aware of.”

In 2013, aged 89, he was awarded the Arctic Star.

He married his first wife, Enid, and had three daughters and a son, who died aged two after being bornwith a damaged liver.

When his son was poorly, Mr Sandford stood down from his role as a councillor for the Abbey ward after his first sixyear stint so he could spend more time at home.

In 1972 Enid died of cancer.

Mr Sandford worked at QB printers – former printers of the Gazette, for 24 years – where he became managing director.

He married childhood friend Lilla Coveney, and in 1986 he rejoined the council following his retirement.

Gazette:

Westley and Lilla were due to become mayor andmayoress in 1992, but he lost his Lexden seat to Tory Sonia Lewis just two weeks before they were due to take on the honour.

But four years later, he was elected in Shrub End, and the couple finally had the chance to take the role.

Sir Bob said: “He was a great Colcestrian, someone who served the town of his birth in many ways – of which being mayor, in 1996 and 1997, was a just reward for decades contributing to the life of Colchester.

“He was a close colleague of mine, particularly in the period when I was leader of the council.”

During his mayoral year Mr Sandford raised money for eight charities, including the Army Benevolent Fund, Colchester League of Friends and the town’s branch of Save the Children.

He also served asamagistrate and was chairman of the Colchester bench for several years.

Mr Sandford, who was 91, died peacefully at Freda Gunton Lodge. Lilla died earlier this year.

His funeral will be at Colchester Crematorium on July 15.

Family flowers only, but donations are to go to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, care of Hunnaball of Colchester, Mersea Road, Colchester.