Colin Lampard, who was chairman of Pewsey Parish Council for 33 years, has died at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.

Mr Lampard was born in Wilcot Road, Pewsey, across the road from his marital home, and lived all his life in the village.

He was educated at Miss Bullock’s School in the village before going on to Devizes Grammar.

He spent a year at Bristol University before taking an apprenticeship at the Signals Research and Development Establishment in Christchurch, Hampshire.

He later took a sandwich course at Bournemouth College in electrical engineering and, while working at the MOD site at Boscombe Down, he met his future wife Jackie.

The couple were married in Andover on December 2 1967.

He was a Pewsey parish councillor from 1966 to 2005 and was chairman from 1970 to 2003.

In 2005 he stood down as parish councillor to concentrate on chairing Pewsey Area Community Trust (PACT).

He was involved in every area of community life in Pewsey.

He was a governor of Pewsey Vale School, secretary of the tennis club, a member of the sports centre management board, a trustee of Voluntary Action Kennet and served on the carnival committee for many years.

Though he and Mrs Lampard were unable to have children themselves, he doted on his nieces Claire and Emma and on his great nephews, Henry, Jack and Ollie, whom he idolised.

Mr Lampard was a lifelong Arsenal supporter, which sometimes brought him into conflict with Mrs Lampard, a Tottenham Hotspur fan.

On their rare moments of relaxation, the couple loved walking and would take hiking holidays in Switzerland and Austria, the last one being in June this year.

Mr Lampard’s funeral takes place in Pewsey Methodist Church tomorrow at 11.30am with a celebration of his life at St John’s Church in the village next Wednesday, August 19, at 6pm.