FORMER Malpas Councillor Brian Hassall has passed away aged 86.

The former Chester City councillor and farmer passed away at Prospect House after a long illness.

He represented Malpas Ward on Chester City Council from 1980 to 1992 and during his time helped highlight the poverty that existed alongside the wealth of Malpas Ward and successfully campaigned to have Malpas designated as a Rural Development Area, which brought much needed funds into the Ward.

For his first 10 years on the council he was a leading a member of the Conservative group that ran the council, being chairman of finance before moving on to become chairman of planning.

He was also chairman of Chester Community Council as well as serving as chairman of Malpas Burial Board and also served as a governor at Bishop Heber High School.

Brian was involved in other areas around Malpas, including serving as rector for St Oswald's Church for both Rev Michael Rylands and Rev Treey Etheridge.

He was a trustee of the church and chairman of the Stewardship Campaign and was also involved in a number of charitable works, raising money for the proposed new swimming baths in Whitchurch and being a member of Probus at Whitchurch.

Before retiring to Priors Oak, Brian farmed at Cuddington Hall.

Brian is survived by his widow Pamela, children Elizabeth and Mark and grandchildren James and Eve.

Elizabeth is head of family law at Jollisses in Chester while Mark now farms at Cuddington Hall.

A small family funeral service is planned and a memorial service when the present pandemic is passed.