Bill Wyrill OBE, one of Lincolnshire's longest-serving and most respected councillors, passed away in hospital in the early hours of 3 August, 2008, at the age of 85.

He was an elected member of Lincolnshire County Council for more than 30 years and was one of the county council's founder members.

He helped steer the authority's Conservative group through the crisis which led to the imprisonment of Jim Speechley, his successor as leader of the local party, in 2004.

He was also awarded an OBE in 2000 in honour of his work.

Mr Wyrill, who lived in North Hykeham, near Lincoln, had been admitted to Lincoln County Hospital two weeks before his death.

He was survived by Barbara, his wife of 59 years, two grown-up children and four grandchildren.

Mrs Wyrill described him as "a devoted husband, father and grandfather".

"He did a lot for the villages he represented. A lot of people in the community knew him," she said.

Yorkshire-born Mr Wyrill joined the RAF on leaving school and later became a farmer.

He became a parish councillor for South Hykeham before being elected onto the newly formed county council, representing Bassingham Rural in 1973. In his 32 years as a councillor, he chaired and sat on enough committees to be widely regarded as one of the most experienced members of the council.

He chaired dozens of meetings on crucial issues of planning, policy and investment and like any good councillor, he stood up for people in his own patch and opposed developments he believed were bad for his area - such as the extension of a quarry at Norton Disney, near Lincoln, in 2003.

The Conservative served as council leader between 1989 and 1993 and was chairman from 2000 to 2001. He retired at the 2005 election.

Councillor Roy Chapman, vice-chairman of the county council, said Mr Wyrill was regarded as an "invaluable" and very senior figure on the council.

"He was a seasoned elder statesman, very shrewd, very canny and a wonderful mentor," he said. "In the chamber he could be very prickly but he was very, very sound. He had the driest sense of humour of anybody on the council and he had a real twinkle in his eye."

Councillor Martin Hill, county council leader, said that his former colleagues on the council would "remember him with affection".

"He brought invaluable knowledge and experience to his many roles at the county council," he said. "I had the honour of working with Bill for many years and his wisdom, integrity and loyalty to the county and council were a great inspiration to myself."

Councillor Ray Phillips, who took over the Bassingham Rural ward in 2005, said he had known Mr Wyrill all of his adult life. "He was always there at absolutely every meeting," he said. "He worked tirelessly for the local community."