ALDERMAN Gordon Williams MBE died peacefully at home last week after a short illness.

Mr Williams was born in 1921 and later attended Birkenhead Institute. In his youth he played rugby with Old Instonians and Birkenhead Park.

During the second World War he served as a sergeant with the 46th Royal Tank Regiment 8th Army in North Africa and Italy.

On demobilisation he trained as a teacher and taught at several Merseyside schools. For many years he was the headmaster of Mendell County Primary School, Bromborough. He ended his career as a school inspector with Wirral Education Authority.

He was an active member of the Labour Party and served for more than 25 years as a local councillor in both Birkenhead and Wirral His first wife, Betty Williams, predeceased him in 1972. He subsequently married Sheila Williams and they recently celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary.

Upon his retirement Mr Williams was very active as a magistrate and was for over 10 years from 1988 the inaugural Chair of Governors at Birkenhead Sixth Form College.

In 2001 he was awarded the MBE in recognition of his service to education and the community on Wirral.

Mr Williams is survived by his wife Sheila, his sons Christopher and Anthony, and his three grandchildren, Megan, Richard and Thomas.