Bill Woodroffe

He moved to Scarborough from his home town of Birmingham in 1948, pursuing his profession as a printer, and became head of leading printing firm, Whitehead Press, of Castle Road.

He and his wife, Dorothy, also ran The Derwent Hotel on Scarborough’s South Cliff for some 23 years. He entered local government as a Conservative councillor in the Weaponness Ward in 1965, serving on Scarborough Town Council and its successor Borough authority, for more than 25 years.

Alderman Woodroffe played a key part in developing Scarborough’s public housing programme, as chairman of the housing committees of both councils. After serving as deputy mayor in 1978-9, he became Mayor the following year.

His many appointments and interests outside the council included the North Yorkshire County Council social services advisory panel and Scarborough Crime Prevention Panel. He was president of Scarborough and District Council for Voluntary Service, chairman of the Scarborough Post Office Advisory Committee, vice president of Scarborough Multiple Sclerosis Society branch and a leading Lions Club member.

During the Second World War, he served in France, Belgium and Germany with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and was demobilised as a staff sergeant.

He leaves wife, Dorothy, son Richard, daughter-in-law Judy and two grandchildren. His funeral is at St Mary’s Church, Scarborough on Tuesday at 10.30am.