A FORMER parish council clerk and Methodist lay preacher has died aged 80.

Derrick Hoyle Gilpin, of Wyre Mews, in Haxby, was a well-known Haxby resident and worked for many years as a parish council clerk in Haxby and Helperby and Brafferton.

He moved to York from Lancashire in 1953 to study teacher-training at York St John College and after qualifying as a teacher, taught for a brief time at Easingwold Primary School before leaving teaching.

He spent the rest of his life living in York and North Yorkshire and had many jobs over the years, working for a brief spell as a driving instructor and a car salesman.

Mr Gilpin was married three times to Margaret, Nora and Patricia, all of whom predeceased him and he was a much-loved father to Beth and Ann, and father-in-law to Martin and Brian, grandfather to Darren and great-grandfather to Charly.

With former wife Patricia, he also ran Langhill country residence for the elderly in Burythorpe, near Malton, and the post office in Bulmer in the 1980s.

In the latter stages of his working life he embarked on a career in the health service, working in various posts including as a hospital administrator.

In his spare time, Mr Gilpin was a Methodist lay preacher in York and the surrounding area and was a respected and well-known member of the community.

His daughter, Ann, said: “Dad was devoted to his family and a very loyal friend. He will be much missed.”

Mr Gilpin died on September 21 after contracting pneumonia following a fall.

There will be a service at York Crematorium tomorrow at 1.30pm followed by a service at Haxby Methodist Church.