A MEMORIAL service will be held for Councillor David Spender, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 56.

He had represented Oliver’s Battery and Badger Farm on Winchester City Council since winning a 2005 by-election.

Replacing Lib Dem colleague Robin Darbyshire, who resigned, he won the seat again in 2008 and increased his majority from 269 to 754.

Formerly a Liberal councillor in Barking and Dagen-ham, he later moved to Winchester.

He lived in Old Kennels Lane, Oliver’s Battery, and campaigned for the Lib Dems before joining the city council.

Away from local politics, Cllr Spender ran his own business as a sales agent for specialist software firms.

He leaves a widow, Barbara, and three children.

There will be a memorial service at Winchester Cathedral on Saturday, December 4 at 2pm.