FORMER chairman of Dorset County Council, John Wilson, has died at the age of 74.

John grew up in Leeds, where he attended the local grammar school before going on to study Chemical Engineering at the Imperial College London.

He began a career in engineering in Yorkshire, where he married his wife, Lesley, before the couple moved to Dorset to join the family's motor business in Ferndown, where they remained for more than 40 years.

John was first elected to Dorset County Council in 2001 as a Conservative member for the Ferndown division. John served in a number of committee roles on the council including as chairman of the Corporate Services Overview/Policy Development Committee between 2003 and 2007. He also served as the council’s member champion for freedom of information and corporate sustainability.

He was elected as vice-chairman of the county council in 2005 and became chairman in 2009, which involved chairing meetings of the full council and representing the authority at civic and ceremonial functions, including a number of royal visits.

As well as a county councillor, he had been a member of East Dorset District Council for Parley since 2011 and was previously a Ferndown Town Councillor. He was also a member of the Dorset Fire Authority, subsequently known as the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Authority, until he stood down in April this year.

In his spare time John was an active member of the Lions Club, participating in many different areas of their charity work and was a governor of Ferndown Upper School since 2007.

He stood down as chairman in April because of health reasons after seven years in the role, although he remained a county councillor.

John died on Monday, June 20th and is survived by his wife, Lesley, and their daughter, Dianne. His funeral will take place at Bournemouth Crematorium on Wednesday, July 6 at 12.30pm.

A book of condolence is open at the County Hall in Dorchester until Thursday, July 21 for staff, councillors and members of the public to sign.