TRIBUTES have been paid to a civic stalwart who gave three decades of dedicated service to York.

Gerald Dean, who has died aged 82, was a former Sheriff of York, a councillor for 27 years, a chairman of York Archaeological Trust, and an honorary alderman of the city.

He also spearheaded a Europe-wide campaign after the York Minster fire of 1984, to share international expertise on how to protect architectural landmarks, and was made an OBE in the 1994 New Year’s Honours List.

Coun John Galvin, The Lord Mayor of York, led the tributes to his fellow Conservative.

He said: “Gerald will be sadly missed by his family and by the many people whose lives he touched; we have all lost a true gentleman.”

Mr Dean, who lived in Middlethorpe Drive, Dringhouses, was first elected as a councillor in 1973, in Micklegate ward, and remained in office for 23 years, including a year as Sheriff in 1975/6.

He also simultaneously served on North Yorkshire County Council for three years, and was re-elected to City of York Council in 1999 for a final four-year term.

Coun Galvin said: “Although Gerald was born in Cheshire, he was extremely proud of York, and worked tirelessly in many ways for his adopted city and its inhabitants. He did his very best for the city as a whole and often saw and understood the wider picture.”

Mr Dean is survived by Eileen, his wife of 56 years, their daughters Rosemary and Sarah, and two grandchildren. They also had a son, Charles, who died seven years ago.

Mrs Dean said of her husband: “He will be remembered with a lot of affection and respect for what he did, because he did it so wholeheartedly.”

Sarah said of her father: “He wanted to work for the people of the community and I think that’s why he got voted in year after year. People were not necessarily voting for the Conservatives, but for him. He did it for the people.”

Dr Richard Hall, director of archaeology at York Archaeological Trust, said: “Gerald will be remembered as a very interested and dedicated supporter of the trust. He was a very keen advocate of what we stood for.”

Mr Dean was a chartered surveyor and valuer, and also worked with British Rail. He was active for many years in the York Conservative Association, and had been chairman of the North Yorkshire Euro Conservative Constituency.