Frederic Standing, former mayor of Scarborough

Mr Standing, known to all as Fred, was a ward councillor for Eastfield, representing Labour for 20 years from 1979, and was mayor in 1998. A nicer man you couldn’t hope to meet, recalled present-day Eastfield councillor, Tony Randerson.

Mr Standing had begun his public life in the 1970s, running community discos at Overdale School and Eastfield Community Centre.

He sat on many committees but housing was his particular interest, and after he left, the council made him an honorary alderman.

Away from the town hall, he was on the board of governors and later chairman at Overdale School, a governor at Pindar School and treasurer and president of the Eastfield Community Centre.

He spent almost his entire working life in the print room at the Scarborough Evening News, retiring in 1991. The paper’s editor, Ed Asquith, said: “Fred was a charming and helpful member of the production team. He is fondly remembered.”