MICHAEL Green, who has died aged 92, was a former mayor of Bournemouth who spent his life speaking up for the tourism and hospitality trades, earning the OBE.

As well as serving on Bournemouth and Dorset County councils, and chairing the Southern Tourist Board for 15 years, he worked for a host of charities and community causes.

Michael Green was born at the Fountain Hotel in Christchurch and was the third generation of his family to enter the licensed trade.

His mother Vivienne died when he was six and Michael moved to his aunt’s home, Stanpit House. He was looked after by Muriel Shrubsole, who lived above the nearby post office. Many years later, he was given the carefully preserved letters that his grandmother had written to Muriel to thank her for his care.

He went to the Convent in Boscombe, now the AECC University College, and Peter Symond’s School, Winchester.

He began a course in engineering at Edinburgh University but abandoned it following D-Day. After service in North Italy, he was posted to the Far East but when the war with Japan ended, he was diverted to peace-keeping in Palestine’s Gaza Strip. There, he was ambushed and kidnapped, with his jeep and uniform used by Zionist terrorists in the rescue of the leader of the Stern Gang from Acre Prison.

When his father William became ill in 1948, Michael returned to the New Bell in at Pokesdown to manage the family’s local business.

He became the south’s youngest holder of a liquor licence at 22 and won three national awards for pulling the best pint and serving good pub food.

He fell in love with nurse Marjorie Walton, who was caring for his father, and they married in her native Yorkshire in 1952.

Michael was elected as an independent councillor in 1955, later becoming a Conservative and Bournemouth’s youngest mayor in 1968. For 12 years, he was in charge of the public purse at Dorset County Council as chairman of policy and resources.

On Bournemouth council, he chaired the entertainment committee. His son Andrew said: “He used to take me to concerts like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. I’ve got fond memories of him taking me backstage to meet Morecambe and Wise at the Winter Gardens.”

From 1968, Michael was also chairman of Bournemouth Airport. On retiring from that post in 1985, he was president of Bournemouth Chamber of Commerce.

He served with a long list of voluntary organisations, joining with Sir Billy Butlin to found the 896 Club for latch key kids in Pokesdown. He was president of Bournemouth Football Supporters Club from 1966-97, twice president of Cancer Research’s Bournemouth branch, and was involved with Bournemouth Voluntary Life guards and Pokesdown Youth Club.

He was one of the founders of the appeal to build a cancer unit at Boscombe, which eventually became the Christchurch Macmillan Unit. He was chairman of Beaufort Community Centre in Southbourne for 10 years; trustee of the Dorset Community Foundation; and chairman of Bournemouth Heart Club.

As a publican and representative of the Licensed Victuallers Association, he welcomed the introduction of all-day licences in 1995 as “the final achievement of a lifelong ambition”.

After the New Bell, he ran Mr Green’s Wine Bar and Outside Catering Company in Boscombe.

He received the OBE in 2002, recognising his service the Southern Tourist Board.

He met the Queen and a large number of the Royal family including Lord Mountbatten, and even played cricket against the Duke of Edinburgh.

He worshipped for many years at St James’ Church, Pokesdown, but in later years moved to Mudeford, where he joined All Saints Church.

Michael leaves Marjorie, his wife of 65 years; children Judith, Andrew and Roger; grandchildren Elizabeth, Rebecca and Matthew; and great-granddaughter Robyn.

A service of thanksgiving is on Wednesday, August 22, 12.30pm, at All Saints, Mudeford. The hearse will pass past the Bell Inn in Pokesdown around 10am. Donations to Dorset Community Foundation via funeral director Deric-Scott.