PETER Carter, who served Appleton villagers as a parish councillor for over 35 years has died, aged 80.

Mr Carter, who died on August 1, was born in Appleton in 1930 and spent his life in the village he loved.

His father, William George Carter, began his building business in Appleton in 1947 and formed WG Carter Ltd in 1955.

Peter was a parish councillor on the Appleton-with-Eaton Parish Council from 1968 to 2003, and was deeply involved in many parish issues over the years.

These included the early days of the Appleton sports field, the rebuilding of the village hall after a fire in March 1987, low-cost housing at Horseshoe Close, and the opening of the Appleton Community Shop in the year 2000.

Jane Dymock, clerk to the Appleton-with-Eaton Parish Council, said of Mr Carter: “He would listen to council matters and quietly make his contribution which would be concise and accurate.

“The wellbeing of the community was of paramount importance to him.”

Mr Carter was also a trustee of Appleton Trust, which awards school leavers with grants for books, contributions to parishioners funeral costs and winter heating allowances for the elderly.

With his lifetime knowledge of the community, this was a trusteeship he relished.

Although Mr Carter retired from WG Carter Ltd in 1995, he continued to show an interest in what sons Paul and Roger have done to ensure the business thrives to this day.

Mr Carter’s later years were troubled by ill-health which he struggled through with the love and support of his wife Betty.

They were an inseparable couple and Mr Carter leaves Betty and sons Paul and Roger.

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Peter Carter was held at Appleton’s St Laurence Church on Monday.