TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayor and town stalwart who has died, aged 88.

Former Frinton and Walton Town Council mayor John Halls passed away on September 12 following a long illness.

He served as a councillor for Walton for 14 years until he stood down in 2015.

John joined the RAF Air Services Rescue in 1953 and worked on special radio modifications for flying boats for the Air Sea Rescue in Felixstowe.

He then joined the family firm, Franks Halls and Sons, in Mill Lane, building rowing and sailing dinghies, and became a member of the town’s lifeboat crew.

He was chairman of Walton Forum and president of Walton Royal British Legion and was handed an MBE for services to the community.

Stewart Oxley, from Walton and Frinton RNLI, said: “All of the team at the lifeboat station were saddened to hear of the passing of John.

“He was a well-known figure in the town and had been involved with the station for many years, serving on the crew during the 1960s and then also as part of the old RNLI station management committee.

“John will be familiar to many for his sterling work over many years managing the lifeboat collection boxes in the shops and pubs around Walton and Frinton and was, in addition to his RNLI involvement a stalwart of the Royal British Legion, organising the towns annual remembrance parade and service for many years.

“John’s son Chris has also served on the Walton crew and John’s nephew is our current coxswain, so the Halls family involvement with the station is still extremely strong.

“As a mark of respect the station will be flying its flag at half mast until John’s funeral and all our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Town councillors held a minute’s silence for Mr Halls at their meeting on Thursday.

Frinton deputy mayor Terry Allen said: “I knew John for many years and knew him as a very hard-working community-spirited person.

“His hard work culminated in him being given an MBE - and I was proud to be asked to write a citation when he was put up for the award.”

Speaking to the Gazette when he stood down as a councillor in 2015, Mr Halls said he was Walton “born and bred”.

He added: “I’ve always loved the area.”