LONG-serving Ensbury Park community stalwart Tony Rawlings died peacefully on November 7.

For many years he served as chairman and manager of the Ensbury Park Community centre, and he was closely involved with the campaign to get it up and running in the first place.

During the late 1980s he was at the forefront of residents calling for better community facilities for the area, and eventually in 1995, working alongside Bournemouth Council’s housing directorate, he was delighted to learn that a scheme had been approved.

For the next 20 years, Mr Rawlings ran the centre almost single-handedly, dealing with bookings and maintenance, and was known to occasionally waive the hire fee for new community groups and activities in a bid to give them a head start.

Bournemouth Council’s community development department said members “mourn the death of Tony and wish his family well”.

A tribute released by the authority said: “He was known for his warmth and love of all things local to Ensbury Park, and many groups and parties benefitted from the centre, which he kept clean and warm for 365 days a year.”

Mr Rawlings only gave up managing the centre as his health deteriorated later in life.

A new managing committee now runs the centre.

Beloved husband of Eve, he will be missed by all his family. A funeral service was held at Bournemouth Crematorium on November 21.