Former Mayor of Tenterden, Phil Carley, has died.

Mr Carley, 73, had been diagnosed with cancer of the lymph gland in February and stood down from the town council then.

Mr Carley’s widow, Brenda, said: “We thought he would be good for a lot longer but it was not to be.

“Phil had wonderful support from colleagues in Tenterden and from different organisations – it is good when that happens.

“He was in the William Harvey for two weeks before he died and the support and attention he got from the nurses and doctors was wonderful.

“You hear negative things about the hospital, but it was amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff.”

Mr Carley died on Friday. He and his wife had recently moved from St Michael’s to Ashford but had been planning to eventually return to the town.

He was a town councillor for eight years and was mayor from 2011 to 2012.

Born in Tenterden, Mr Carley was brought up in Woodchurch where he lived until he joined the RAF at 17 for three years.

He then began a 30-year career with Kent police, retiring as a sergeant. He was in charge of the Meopham rural area for 10 years.

Mr Carley was an officer with the police federation and on leaving the force, spent 11 years as a police welfare officer, serving on the Kent Welfare Association. He finally retired in 2003 and the Carleys moved to St Michael’s.

He leaves a widow, sons Stephen and Ian and four grandchildren.

The funeral details have yet to be announced.