Former chairman of South Holland District Council Fred Fretwell has died, aged 78.
Mr Fretwell, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2009, passed away on March 27.
Mr Fretwell lived with wife Lynne in Gosberton Westhorpe before her death last April. He leaves four children.
He was originally a member of the Labour Party, but left to join the Co-operative Party.
He later rejoined the Labour Party and stood for election to South Holland District Council as a Labour and Co-operative candidate for Donington and Quadring (now Donington, Quadring and Gosberton).
He was vice-chairman to Colin Fisher in 2001-02 and was then chairman with Mick Pell as vice-chair in 2002-03.
Together Mr and Mrs Fretwell founded SOFA – a furniture recycling project which was based in Cradge Bank, Spalding.
Mr Fretwell was heavily involved with the Donington district Voluntary Car Scheme and the Spalding Access Group.
He was also a member of Market Deeping Town Council for a number of years.
Before moving to Lincolnshire, Mr Fretwell was a market trader and owned a shoe business called Feet First in Northamptonshire.
Paying tribute to Mr Fretwell, former South Holland district councillor Robert West said: “Fred was one hell of a character.
“He was very open and extremely good company, and I was very proud to be his friend.
“I was very pleased when he was elected chairman of the council.”
Mr Pell added: “Fred had a willingness to help anyone and a fantastic sense of humour.
“He was unmistakable and always needed a haircut – it was his trademark.”
