Roy Howell

He was born in Manchester, and when he was 16 got a job with Manchester City Council. He was still with the council while he studied for a BA in Administration at Salford University.

After a spell in the RAF during the Second World War, he returned to Manchester City Council and there met Sylvia Joyce Mottershead, whom he married in 1949.

They moved to York in 1954 when he became assistant city treasurer at York City Council. In 1956, he had a similar role for one year with Staffordshire County Council before returning to York to become city treasurer and then, in 1974, town clerk, an office which became that of the chief executive.

He retired in 1982 having made the difficult transition from the very formal, somewhat austere role of the traditional "town clerk" to the very different style required of the position he later filled.

As city treasurer in the early 1960s, he helped to establish the University of York, which awarded him an honorary degree not only for that, but for his contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of York.

Sylvia died in October that year, and in October 1998, Mr Howell married again, his second wife coincidentally also called Sylvia Joyce.

Mr Howell became a Rotarian in 1957, and Rotary would afterwards play an important part in his life; he was President of the York club in 1974/75 and remained a member up until this year.

He was involved with many other organisations including York Theatre Royal as a committee member, York Citizens Advice as a committee member and chairman, the York Community Fund as chairman, and the Friends of York Samaritans as chairman and trustee.

He was committed to the work of the York Archaeological Trust and helped to raise funds for it in the United States. He was actively involved in supporting Voluntary Service Overseas.

Mr Howell was treasurer of the York Dijon Association and was involved with the twinning of York and Munster.

A life-long Methodist, he was actively involved in helping to run Acomb Methodist Church, and was youth leader for a time. He was also a governor of Westfield Primary School, York.

A redoubtable character – once met, never forgotten – Mr Howell was good natured, got on well with all those with whom he had dealings, and was dedicated to the city he had adopted. He once said that he wanted to be remembered as the "man who started things".

He is survived by his wife Sylvia Joyce and his son Clive, daughter Jayne and six grandchildren.