A much-loved former mayor of Dover has died.

Bill Newman passed away in the early hours of yesterday at his home in River.

The news was broken to workshippers at St Mary’s Parish Church in Dover later that morning.

He was 89 and would have turned 90 next Sunday.

Mr Newman was Dover mayor in 1989-90 and 1992-93, a Labour county and district councillor and a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

His reputation for immense goodwill won him friends among his political opponents.

His widow Jean told the Mercury: “He was someone who never bore grudges and that won him lots of friends in the Tory party as well.”

Mrs Newman revealed that her husband had written a book about his father, an alderman and JP, which was due to be published on his birthday.

The publication has now been postponed but is expected to happen in the near future.

Gwyn Prosser, Dover Labour MP from 1997 to 2010, was a district and county councillor with Mr Newman in the 1980s and 1990s.

He told the Mercury: “Bill was dedicated to whatever he did, whether he was a councillor or mayor.

"He was a passionate socialist but was able to communicate and get on well with all political parties.

“I think it was his ability to reach across parties that helped him become Deputy Lieutenant, which was quite an accolade.

“When my family and I came to Dover from Wales in 1980 he was my first contact with the local Labour Party.

“He in fact encouraged me to stand for selection for Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Dover.

“He will be hugely missed and my thoughts go to Jean and the rest of the family.”

Peter Sherred, past president of the Rotary Club of Dover, was one of those who had been told the sad news at church.

He said: “ Bill was a gentleman in politics who rose above the hurly burly.”

Mr Newman had been a teacher at Archers Court School (now Dover Christ Church Academy) in Whitfield in the 1960s.

He was a Dover district councillor for the Buckland ward and for two years chairman of Dover District Council.

Mr Newman was a Kent county councillor for the Dover Central division from 1995 to 2009 and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant on May 1, 2001.

His book is called Conversations with My Father and tells of his father William Newman Sr who was also a miner and National Union of Mineworkers secretary at Tilmanstone Colliery.

In addition he was a Kent county councillor and governors’ chairman at Dover Grammar School for Boys.

Mr Newman had died after a long illness, suffering emphysema and heart problems.

He and Jean had been married since 1960 and he also leaves three sons and six grandchildren.