A FORMER chairman of Malvern Urban District Council has died in Australia, aged 82.

Mr Alfred Lawrence "Bill" Surtees, who lived in Malvern between 1942 and 1965, was very well known in the town.

He originally came to Malvern to join the wartime staff of Sir Alan Cobham, at Flight Refuelling, in the Morgan car factory, and subsequently joined RRDE at Pale Manor, later becoming a draughtsman at RRE.

He was elected to the council in 1952 as a member for the Chase ward. In 1958, when the Langland ward was formed, he stood there and was elected with a majority of 1,000, and remained there for the rest of his council career.

Mr Surtees was chairman in 1963-64 and also served on numerous committees, being chairman of housing, planning and the Winter Gardens committee.

He was also president of the Malvern Cage Bird Society, visiting member of the Howsells and Malvernbury old people's homes, governor of the Dyson Perrins School, manager of Great Malvern Primary School and treasurer of St Mary's Church Committee.

He was also a member of the committee of Malvern Town Football Club and ran St Mary's youth football team.

Mr Surtees left RRE to become air traffic control design officer at the National Air Traffic Control Service in London.

On retirement he and his wife Dorothy emigrated to Australia to join his son, Anthony, and daughter, Lorraine, in New South Wales.

Frank Hambrey, of Russell Drive, Malvern Link worked with Mr Surtees at Flight Refuelling and has fond memories of "clambering over aircraft" with him on trips to Staverton Airport, near Gloucester.

"He was always pleasant and affable and good to talk to," said Mr Hambrey, who was in contact with Mr Surtees until recently.

"We exchanged Christmas cards the last few years. This Christmas I didn't get one and I wondered why. I had no hint of him being ill."