Tributes have been paid to Neil Newby, of Holton-le-Clay, Lincolnshire, who died on 10 July, 2009, at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital following a seven-year fight with cancer.

Mr Newby, a former district and parish councillor, died aged 73.

He was honorary president of the Holton Community Centre Association (HCCA), which he founded 33 years ago.

He fought to win funding for the centre – which was eventually built next to the junior school in Picksley Crescent (Holton-le-Clay ) – in 1981.

Now it is a hub for village sport, including football, badminton and indoor bowls, as well as dance classes, Guide meetings, children's groups and numerous other activities.

HCCA committee member Rosemary Hubbard said: "The HCCA was Neil – he built it up all those years ago and he carried on being chairman although he was ill.

"He asked if we wanted to put someone else in but we wanted him to carry on as long as he was able. The HCCA owes a great deal to Neil.

"Until the end he was there upholding it and keeping it going."

Mr Newby's disposition to public service ran in the family. His great uncle, Tom Newby, was a former Mayor of Grimsby and his father Frank was also a Holton-le-Clay parish councillor.

As a twice-elected East Lindsey district councillor over almost 20 years, Mr Newby served on the planning and licensing committees as well as on the board of Linx Homes.

The Newby family name was also well-known on the docks where his grandfather, Frank, became a fish merchant in the 1920s. Mr Newby followed his father into the firm but left as the fishing industry declined to become an independent financial advisor.

A talented self-taught musician, Mr Newby played the guitar and was chairman of the Grimsby and district Guitar Society in the late 1960s.

He was a key organiser of the town's first-ever guitar festival at the former Humber Royal Hotel, which attracted players from across the country.

Dog training was another of his interests. Mrs Hubbard said: "He was just wonderful with dogs. I have memories of him taking a dog that was quite unruly and in two or three minutes it would be walking to heel quite happily and it was always with kindness. He had a real knack with dogs."

Mr Newby taught the subject for local adult education and ran a dog-handling demonstration team, which gave displays around the region.

His own dogs, mostly German shepherds, were trained for a high level of obedience competition and won many awards and prizes.

He was survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty, three children and five grandchildren.