The community of Burley-in-Wharfedale has lost a long-serving champion of local causes with the death of community councillor founding member, John Gundry.

Mr Gundry, vice president and former vice-chairman of Burley Community Council, died unexpectedly on Alderney, where he was on holiday with his family, on May 29.

Born in Hanwell, Middlesex, in 1931, Mr Gundry was a maths scholar at New College, Oxford, before entering the Civil Service as an Inspector of Taxes.

His career eventually brought him to Bradford, and he and his wife and three children settled in Burley-in-Wharfedale in 1973.

Mr Gundry quickly became involved in village affairs and was a founder member of the Burley Community Council (BCC).

BCC was established as a voluntary body, non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.

Mr Gundry represented the village on a number of occasions – when the construction of the A65 bypass was being debated and again when the Bradford Unitary Development Plans were causing concern in the village, over Burley House Field.

After his retirement from the Civil Service, Mr Gundry volunteered for Otley Citizens’ Advice Bureau and in his leisure time was an enthusiastic member of the Olicana Bridge Club.

He was buried on Alderney in his parents’ grave. Donations in his memory may be sent to the Burley-in-Wharfedale Community Trust or to the national charity War on Want.