THE village of Barnton is mourning the death of a real community man.

Tom Allen, who lived in Barnton for 97 years passed away on August 13, aged 99.

As a child he was one of the first to join the primary school in Runcorn Road.

Later he attended the Methodist Sunday School and later the church and one of his memories was when he purchased a brick bearing his initials to go into the brickwork of the Oakwood Lane Church.

Barnton Football Club was also close to his heart. He was a valiant worker on their committee eventually becoming president, a position he held until his death.

When he married Evelyn in October 1928, they lived in a house overlooking the football club in Townfield Lane.

During his working life he was a river craft engineer for ICI, a job he held for 50 years.

Tom was a founder member of the Barnton Memorial Hall, a Barnton parish councillor, Northwich rural councillor and Vale Royal borough councillor.

In these positions he carried out his duties to the benefit of the village.

His pressure on the housing committee helped many Barnton residents with their problems.

Even when he was in his 80s Tom was a regular driver in the Meals on Wheels scheme for delivering lunches in the Barnton and Comberbach area.

His daughter Hazel paid tribute to her father.

She said: "He was such a caring person, a wonderful man.

"He loved his family and was very proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"He was a bit of institution in the village. He was so well known and was a real community man."