The last surviving mayor of Beccles from its days as a borough has died.

Clifford Andrew, who was mayor of the town in 1964 and 1972, died aged 97 last Friday.

Mr Andrew was a stalwart of the town having served as town councillor for 29 years and as a representative at Waveney District Council.

Born in Buckhurst Hill, he moved to Beccles in 1947 after serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War.

He became an Alderman of the town in 1964 and served in that capacity until the reorganisation with Waveney District Council in 1974.

His wife, Cecilia, also served as a councillor in Beccles.

During his time with Beccles Council he served as chairman of road safety, home safety, health and roads, and finance.

He was instrumental in gaining the outdoor pool for Beccles and also for the development of the Waveney Centre.

He was an active lobbyist for the development of the Fibrenyle Plastics factory, which faced opposition as a competitor for the supply of local labour.

Mr Andrew was chairman of the Lowestoft Constituency Labour Party and a member of the Beccles Labour party for more than 40 years. He and his wife were the driving force behind the construction of the Edward Evans Hall in Peddars Lane.

In 1969 he was made a Magistrate and served on the Beccles bench until 1990 and became a volunteer hospital driver.

He also served as a governor of the Sir John Leman and Crowfoot schools and was chairman of the Friends of Beccles Hospital.

He was one of the first residents of Rigbourne Hill where he lived until recently when he moved to the Moorings Care Home at Earsham.

The flag on St Michael's Church Tower was this week flown at half mast in his memory.

He is survived by daughters Roberta and Averil, and nine grandchildren. He had another son, Michael, who died in 2010.

A service of thanksgiving will be held at the Methodist and United Reform Church Hungate Beccles on Thursday, April 27 at 11am, followed by a private cremation.