A POPULAR former mayor of Worcester who served his community passionately for half a century has died.

David Inight, aged 83, of Elgar Crescent, Droitwich, passed away at his home on Tuesday following a short battle against cancer.

Mr Inight was born in Broadway on October 10, 1929, and was adopted when he was three weeks old by Hannah Inight, who brought him up.

A Freemason for more than 40 years, he completed his National Service for the Royal Signals and was a keen oarsman, having a boat named after him by Worcester Rowing Club.

Mr Inight, who was awarded the MBE, completed 50 years as a councillor, both on Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council. He represented the St Stephen Ward from 1965-99 as a Conservative.

He was Sheriff of Worcester in 1975/76 and served as mayor in 1994/95, when he met his partner, Hilary Day.

He was also a member of the fire authority, chairman of the housing committee for many years and heavily involved with the Rotary Club of Worcester.

He became an honorary member as mayor but developed an active role, becoming president and a Paul Harris Fellow, part of a select few within Rotary.

Mrs Day said: “We shall miss him desperately. Everyone will miss David. I said to him before he died, ‘David, everybody loves you’. He was pleased.”

She said he was a “hard-working man” of “infinite patience”, as well as being a gentleman and good fun, with a talent for entertaining.

He worked for Post Office Telephones, which became BT, as a telecommunications engineer.

Coun Robert Rowden said: “David was a stalwart of the Tory party for many years and a personal friend for many of us. He was a very easy person and very approachable.”

John Pooley, a member of the Rotary Club of Worcester, said: “He was a true gentleman, kind and incredibly good natured with a massive sense of humour and always willing to help people.”

Mr Inight, who was widowed, did not have any children but considered the family of his partner as his own.

Details of the funeral have yet to be arranged.