TRIBUTES have been paid to former Haslemere Mayor Michael Dover, 66, who sadly died on July 23 following a six-year battle with cancer.

A pillar of the community, Mr Dover served as Hindhead town councillor from May 2003 until he died and was town mayor from 2005-6.

A dedicated volunteer, he was a director of ATTEND, formerly known as the National Association for the League of Hospital Friends.

He served with the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in the UK, Northern Ireland, Germany and Cyprus, before a second career in marketing, but was forced to take early retirement in 1990 following a serious car accident.

As one of Haslemere’s longest-serving town councillors, he worked tirelessly for the benefit of residents.

While mayor, he launched a 10-year campaign for more parking at the station, which bore fruit in 2016 when former franchise holder South West Trains agreed to add an upper deck and increase the spaces to 100.

Mr Dover’s vital contribution was recognised with a plaque erected when the upper deck was officially opened in 2017.

As town councillor, he set up various volunteer groups to undertake tasks in the community, notably the Beacon Hill Heavy Brigade, and worked with them to restore public open spaces in and around Beacon Hill, notably Woodcock Green.

He also improved Grovers Garden in Wood Road, St Alban’s churchyard and to the play area on Tilford Road.

Paying tribute, friend and fellow former town mayor Brian Howard said: “Thanks to Michael’s personal efforts, Woodcock Green was transformed. In the process, he also ‘annonomously’ repainted the old telephone box.

“A master of gentle arm-twisting, Michael had a way of getting people to agree, even sometimes volunteer, for things they didn’t know they wanted to do,” Mr Howard added.

nA memorial service will be held at St Alban’s Church, Hindhead, at 11am on Friday, August 10.