TRIBUTES have been paid to long-serving Whitchurch town councillor Terry O'Neill, who died last month.

Terry passed away on Thursday, June 24 at Whitchurch Community Hospital, after being taken in to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in March.

Originally from Chester, Terry moved to Whitchurch in 2000 and fell in love with the town, eventually joining the town council in 2012.

Terry soon developed a passion for the town parks and became chairman of the parks and public realm committee, overseeing all park developments.

He worked hard alongside the Council's contractors developing the Harry Richards Memorial Garden and brought in recycled benches, memorial trees and an extension to the Jubilee Park play area.

Living locally, he was in town every day and always happy to have a chat with anyone about any issues, with council officers often joking with him that you could normally find him in his high street office at Trevor Fowles Quality Butchers with his mug of tea.

Whitchurch Mayor Bev Duffy said Terry would be remembered very fondly.

"Terry was a lovely, popular, thoughtful and well respected colleague and member of our community," said Bev.

"He readily volunteered to help at every event in the town; you would find him in a council hi-vis jacket supporting Party in the Park and staying to the end to help the final clear up.

"A key player with Blackberry Fair, you would see him in the parade pushing the 'bed of plenty' up High Street and was on hand all day to help.

"He gave his time freely and was so obliging, getting involved with everything that took place, including the Food and Drink Festival, stewarding at the majority of shows, comedy events at the Civic Centre, selling raffle tickets at the Friday coffee mornings in the Civic and much, much more.

"He will be very sadly missed by his fellow councillors, council officers and all his many friends."

Terry was also the chair of trustees at the Beechtree Community Centre working closely with Penny Beddoes, chief officer, who said he was a "calming voice at the end of the phone or a friendly face over a cup of coffee".

"He worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the centre and his working relationship with staff and trustees was full of respect, kindness and humour," said Penny.

"He was very knowledgeable regarding how the centre staff and trustees could work together for the people of Whitchurch.

"He always made time for the giving of advice and was counted as a true friend not only by the Beechtree but also to its wider family.

"A true friend and we count it an honour to have known him."

Meanwhile, Blackberry Fair organiser Steven Chapman praised his 'cherished mate'.

"Terry O'Neill, the fella you frequently saw at the forefront of action in town, never shying away from his commitments to the community be it as a town councillor or just as one of the gang," said Steve.

"He was always up for a cheeky good time, remaining humble and unassuming to the very end.

"That synonymous flat cap wandering along High Street will be missing from now on but we've all shared so many great times with Terry down the years, his memory will live on so from us all to you, we raise a glass.

"So many thanks and cheers pal."

Trevor Fowles himself said he could always have a brew with Terry.

"It was unusual not to see him," said Trevor. "He would always have a brew here.

"I will be sadly missed that's for sure. He loved the town, even though he was from the big city of Chester.

"Always a genuinely really nice guy."