A FORMER Mayor of Maidstone and borough councillor Dick Woods has died suddenly at home at the age of 89.

Mr Woods served on Hollingbourne Rural District Council and then Maidstone Borough Council after local government reorganisation in 1974.

He became Mayor of Maidstone in 1979/1980 and was formerly the ward councillor for Harrietsham and Lenham. He died at the home he shared for 54 years with his wife, Maureen.

She said: “He was a very forthright, no nonsense sort of man who was passionate about bringing greater prosperity and tourism to Maidstone. He took great pride in everything he did.

“He was involved in lots of things and knew a lot of people. I didn’t know just how many until now.”

Mr Woods is also survived by three children, Richard, Carolyn and Robin, and five granddaughters. His funeral will take place at St John’s The Baptist Church, Church Lane, Harrietsham on Friday, October 21 at 1pm.