A former Wittersham parish councillor and stalwart of the village, Alan Wood, has died.

Mr Wood, 81, of Lloyds Green, was also on the village hall committee and a member of the Isle of Oxney tug-of-war team when it was world champion in the 1970s.

His funeral takes place at Charing Crematorium today (Thursday) at NOON.

He had lived in Wittersham since 1942, and in 2001 was presented with a Civic Award for his service to the village.

His widow, Ruby, said: “He was always very active in the village.

“Sport and tug-of-war were his life to the end – he is going off in his England tug-of-war kit.

“Alan was always a village man and will be missed. My house is full of cards.”

Mr Wood died on Sunday, November 8, in the William Harvey Hospital. He had been ill for a year. He worked as a gardener and landscaper.

Mr Wood was a puller for the village-based tug-of-war team, joining in 1970.

The team won county, national and European titles and was three times world champion in the 1970s.

Mr Wood qualified as a tug-of-war judge, reaching the national standard in 1987.

He was secretary of the Isle of Oxney team for 12 years, chairman of the Kent Tug-of-War Association for 21 years, as well as one of its former presidents, and chairman of the area association for many years.

Mr Wood played football until he was in his 50s and also played cricket for the village.

He was a parish councillor for eight years from 1992 and had chaired the village hall committee. Mr Wood was on the committee of the sports club, chairman of the football club and horticultural society, started a youth club and was a member of the Isle of Oxney Local History Group.

He leaves two daughters, a son and six grandchildren.