Glowing tributes were paid this week to Bungay's former Town Recorder Frank Honeywood, 'a Bungay man through and through,' who died last Wednesday.

Aged 84, and one of Bungay's great characters, his interest in the town and its history was wide and well known, and he was proud when asked by the town council in 1979 to become Town Recorder.

In that role, and for many years before, he amassed a huge collection of old photographs, sketches and documents relating to the town's past, and took his own pictures to document the changes in the town scene since then.

For many years he took video recordings of the speeches at the annual Bungay Town Dinner, hosted by the Town Reeve, and of the Town Meeting at which the identity of the new reeve is revealed.

Current Town Reeve Michael Davies said: 'We will all miss Frank and his enormous enthusiasm for the visual history of Bungay. It was hardly possible to find any subject on which he was unable to produce a photograph from the past.'

Town Mayor Sylvia Knights said: 'Serving as Town Recorder for many years, a role he loved, Frank served the town as it's eyes and ears, recording all major events and creating a wonderful historic record. We send our deepest sympathy to June and all the family and can assure them that their loss will be shared by many around Bungay.'

Mr Honeywood was one of Bungay Museum's first trustees.

Museum curator Chris Reeve said this week: 'Frank was appointed when the then curator, Dr. Hugh Cane, established the Charitable Trust in 1977. As far as I recall, he never missed a meeting, and regularly brought along photographs, magazines and other memorabilia he had collected to show to the Trustees.'

Born and educated in Bungay, Mr Honeywood for a short spell worked for a Bungay building firm before moving to work at Broome fruit farm, becoming foreman working in the orchards, and, in the picking season, organising team of apple-pickers, both housewives and school students. It was there that he met his wife, June, and when they married they lived for some time in Broome, before moving into Bungay.

In 1968 he moved to work at Clays bookprinters in the town, and was there until he retired.

During his working days Mr Honeywood was caretaker at Broome Place, home of the owner, while working at the fruit farm, and later was caretaker for a number of churches.

His daughter, Kathy Matthews, said: 'He was immensely proud of his caretaking duties at Broome Place, and at the churches where he later filled that role. And he loved his beloved Bungay – he was Bungay through and through.'

Mr Honeywood leaves his wife, two children and grandchildren. Arrangements for his funeral service have still to be confirmed.