On the forum’s website, Paul Reach writes: ‘I have just returned from holiday, during which I was informed about the sad passing of Roger Chilcott.
‘In the past I worked very closely with Roger on a number of town projects, and I like to think that he was persuaded to join the town council in March 2011 after meeting me at my house with a number of other candidates for the council posts.
‘Actually, to be honest, I think Roger had probably already made up his mind, because he was a man who had decided to dedicate himself to serving the town he had lived and worked in for so long. We worked closely together on the council, and Roger joined the traffic and parking group, which I chaired, to try and help ease the parking problems of Dartmouth, a thankless task at the best of times.
‘Roger was a charming and likeable man who I enjoyed talking to. He talked a great deal of sense and usually with an attention to detail.
‘Roger took over the chair of this group when I left and unfortunately we did not make much progress with the traffic problem, but we at least gave everyone a chance to air their opinions on the issue, usually quite loudly!
‘Roger then joined the Vision group I formed as chairman of the Business Forum, after leaving the council in 2012. This group was trying to formulate a Vision for Dartmouth in 10 years’ time so we could try to take some control over our own future.
‘He also carried on as a founder member of the BID group which evolved out of the Vision group and played a very active role in helping the group consult with business owners and create the five-year business plan which the businesses eventually voted for.
‘It is so typical of Roger that he was in Spain walking the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela trail for charity when he died. He was doing what he could to help the Children’s Hospice South West and to help fund the Dartmouth Christmas lights, which brought so much pleasure to the town.
‘I will personally miss Roger a great deal and will miss our chats in the street as he seemed to be able to rise above the usual small town issues and focus on the positives.
‘Farewell Roger, I will miss you.’
Mr Chilcott’s family are currently in the process of repatriating him back to this country. Funeral arrangements will be delayed until that has been accomplished.’