VETERAN Bournemouth councillor Harry Cutler died peacefully on November 11, aged 86.

First elected to the former County Borough Council as councillor for Moordown South in May 1966, Mr Cutler served his community over a period of nearly 40 years, particularly during his time in the Boscombe West ward.

Born and raised in Boscombe, Mr Cutler spent most of his life in the borough and was instrumental in setting up an innovative hostel for mothers with drug problems in the 1960s.

He was well known in the community and worked in a variety of jobs including sales of insurance, china and glassware, tinned soup and dog food. He also ran a fish and chip shop.

Mr Cutler and his wife, Joyce, were married in 1950 and had two children, Margaret and Noel, and three grandchildren. Joyce died in 2006.

His political career began with the Labour Party, but during the course of his four periods of service with Bournemouth Council he switched to the Conservative Party.

He represented Kinson South when elected to the present council in June 1973, but was best known for his later tenure in the Boscombe West ward from 1996 onwards, where he worked closely with landlords to try and resolve the area’s housing problems.

He was awarded an MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his charity and community work in 1995 and in 2010, a block of flats in Knole Road was named in his honour.

Mr Cutler represented the council on external bodies including the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the governing body of King’s Park Primary School. He served on numerous council committees including as chairman of the Housing Committee from 1999 to 2001.

He was also heavily involved with the local branch of the Salvation Army, an active supporter of community café Crumbs, a Friend of Shelley Manor, and at one time President of the Free Church Council.

Described by present Bournemouth council leader John Beesley as “an inspirational man in every sense”, Mr Cutler retired from council work when he was defeated in Boscombe West by the Liberal Democrats in 2003.

At that time he held the cabinet portfolio for developing communities and tackling crime following the introduction of the council’s new political structure a year before.

As he departed he said: “I hope Bournemouth is a better place for what I've done.”

Mr Cutler died at Merstone Hall Nursing Home after suffering with a long illness. A service of thanksgiving will be held in his memory at Boscombe Salvation Army headquarters in Palmerston Road today at 2pm.