A former Mayor of Gravesham, who loved to stay active and used to nip to his job in London on a Lambretta, has died.

Walter Cook, or Wally to those who knew him, reached the age of 96, but died last week.

Northfleet through and through, he was born and stayed in the town all his life, living in Springhead Road and White Avenue until his most recent years, when ill health saw him move into a care home in Surrey near his daughter, Judith Wilson.

The only boy in a family of five children, he went to St Botolph’s primary school and the technical school (now Mayfield) in Pelham Road.

He worked as an electrical contractor and in 1940 joined the Royal Air Force, dreaming of becoming a pilot.

However, he was found to be deaf in one ear, which scuppered his ambitions so he worked in radar, where he met Vera Dutton two years later.

She was working for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and the couple married in 1944. They had two children, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Initially an electrician, after the war he joined Val de Travers Asphalt as a surveyor and manager, where he stayed until retirement 39 years later.

Always active, he would head into London for work each day on a little Lambretta scooter, went jogging into his mid-60s and was always game for tennis and badminton.

His role in local government was described by Gravesham council as being “long and distinguished”.

First elected to Northfleet Urban District Council in 1960, he served on most committees and as chairman of the council. He was elected to the new Gravesham Borough Council as a Labour member in 1973 and stayed there until he served as mayor in 1994/95.

He had a lot to do with sports initiatives, and in the council focused much on recreation and leisure facilities.

Mrs Wilson said he would still talk about old Northfleet, its history and people and always felt he was a “Northfleet person”. He was also “rather fond of traditional English puddings and cakes”.

A very good pianist, when he retired Mr Cook would go to the Wombwell Hall day centre in Wombwell Gardens, Northfleet, and play for older people.

Mrs Wilson said: “They would all gather round and sing by the piano. He also loved his garden and used to be outside keeping that going all the time.

“He was a lifelong supporter of Ebbsfleet United Football Club and still kept up with their results even after he left the area.”

With the opening of Shears Green School in 1954, he joined the PTA and was on the governing body for it, Northfleet School for Boys, St Botolph’s and Lawn primary school.

He immersed himself in voluntary work, as chairman of the Northfleet Veterans’ Club, a member of the Northfleet Old People’s Welfare Committee, Gravesend Churches Housing Association and a trustee of Northfleet Diamond Jubilee Samaritan Fund.

He had a fall, broke his hip and never fully recovered.

The date for his funeral has not yet been fixed.