An ex-councillor who led the campaign against the demolition of the Upminster clock house died in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Geoff Lewis, who represented the Residents’ Association on Havering Council between 1981-86 and again from 1994-2002, was a “straight-forward man with lots of common sense”.

The 85-year-old died of

heart failure at his home in Upminster.

He moved to the area 50 years ago from Stepney and immediately got involved with local affairs and joined the RA.

He held many roles within the party, and considered his successful clock house protest while secretary in the 1970s as his greatest achievement.

Friend and fellow councillor Linda Hawthorn said: “I

admired Geoff very much. He

was a straight-forward man, with lots of common sense, and

one whose advice you could always rely on. He was very interested in local history and heritage, a writer of a number of books on local history and his own family tree – another of his hobbies.

“Our thoughts are very much with his wife, two daughters and two grand-children. He and Joan celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in late November last year – theirs was a truly happy marriage and he will be greatly missed.”

Ron Ower, who replaced him as editor of the RA bulletin, said: “He absolutely loved Upminster and Cranham.”