DOUG LENTELLFormer mayor of Torbay Doug Lentell died at the age of 85.Mr Lentell, who was also a former chairman of Devon County Council and an Honorary Alderman of Devon, died at his home in Paignton on 4 August, 2009.His wife of 63 years, Zelma, said: "His motto throughout his council service was 'I'm here to serve, not to be served'."And Torbay MP Adrian Sanders added: "If public service could be exemplified by one person then the late Honorary Alderman Douglas Lentell was that person."Born at Clayhidon in East Devon, Mr Lentell left school at 17 and worked for Standard Telephones and Cables at Ilminster in Somerset.He served in the Royal Signals during his National Service, reaching the rank of Sergeant.In the mid-1950s he was among the STC pioneers who moved to Paignton to set up the factory on the ring road which would become the town's largest employer.He and his family moved from their home in Wellington to Spencer Road, where he and his wife have lived ever since.Mr Lentell worked at STC as an electronics engineer, and in his spare time was a keen caravanner, travelling all over Britain.He joined the Liberal Party in the early 1970s, becoming a county councillor and later a Torbay borough councillor.Having served as deputy mayor for a year, Mr Lentell became mayor of Torbay in 1992.He became chairman of the county council in 1993 and was later made an Honorary Alderman of the county.Mrs Lentell said: "Becoming mayor was something he never expected, and we met a lot of people we would never have met otherwise.Mr Lentell had been ill for some time after being diagnosed with cancer. He died at his home surrounded by his family.He had five daughters — Andra, Stephanie, Peta, Verity and Adrienne — nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. His daughters recently took part in the charity Midnight Walk in Torbay to raise funds for Rowcroft Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support.Earlier in the year Mr Lentell donated the robes he wore as mayor of Torbay to the new mayor of Wellington.Councillo r Peter Critchard was elected the first mayor of the Somerset town, and hearing that they were struggling to pay for robes, Mr Lentell decided to donate his.Mr Sanders went on: "He was always lending his time, experience and wisdom to the people of Paignton, Torbay and Devon."Doug always gave the impression of being calm and laid back, yet he was as passionate about wanting to improve services and help individuals as anyone I have ever met in politics."Mrs Lentell said the family were very grateful for the help and support of their district nurses, Marcus Harris and his team and the Rowcroft At Home team.A funeral service will be held at the Palace Avenue Methodist Church in Paignton on Thursday at 2pm.
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