A RETIRED Copmanthorpe councillor and honorary Alderman of the City of York has died following a long illness.

Andrew Armstrong, 74, of Bishopthorpe, died on Saturday, in St Leonard's Hospice.

Mr Armstrong, a retired civil engineer, was born in Edinburgh in 1926. He spent nine years on Selby District Council and seven years on North Yorkshire County Council before joining City of York Council in 1995 as the member for Copmanthorpe ward.

During the four years that Mr Armstrong, a Conservative councillor, spent on the City of York council, he was a member of various committees and boards, including the policy and resources committee and the social services committee.

He was made an Alderman of the City in December 1999 when he was praised by the leader of the council, Rod Hills, as having given "loyal and devoted service to his community."

Today, the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Irene Waudby, said: "I've known Andrew for 12 years and he was a very committed councillor who was concerned about people and was dedicated to doing the best he could.

"He was a very nice man who was always very helpful.

"I was very sad to hear that he had died and would like to express my sympathy to his family."

Mr Armstrong leaves a widow, Cathie, two children and three grandchildren.

A service of thanksgiving will take place at 3.30pm on Monday, at York Crematorium.

Mr Armstrong retired from the council at the May 1999 elections.

Updated: 15:30 Wednesday, August 08, 2001