A FORMER chairman of New Forest District Council has died just weeks after he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding and reaffirmed their vows.

John Hoy, who had cancer, joined the council in 1983 and was one of its longest serving members.

He was a Conservative member for Hordle, where he and his wife Shirley played a leading role in village life.

A service of thanksgiving for the life of Councillor Hoy will be held tomorrow. His funeral, a private family event, will take place today.

Any donations should be made to Oakhaven Hospice, Lymington, which is where Councillor Hoy was being treated when he died.

Full story in today's Daily Echo.