A LONG standing sportsman and councillor has died after becoming his village's longest serving resident.

Moving to Hall Farm in Stone at the age of three, Mr Booth would become the village’s longest occupant before he died on June 2 at the age of 84.

A Gloucestershire County Councillor for 34 years, a parish councillor for the village for 50 years and a relatively short time on Thornbury and Stroud District councils ensured he was a well known face in the community.

As a child Mr Booth attended Stone school and then went on to Thornbury Grammar School a year early where he spent many lessons in air raid shelters during the war.

A keen sportsman, he was house captain for his school before going on to play for Stone United FC and Berkeley Town FC as well as for Stone Cricket Club, where he was instrumental in securing a move to the current ground at Swanley in the early 1960s.

The farmer also enjoyed playing skittles and was in teams playing in Thornbury, Berkeley and Stroud district skittles leagues, winning many league titles and trophies.

Never one to rest on his laurels Mr Booth was a member of Gloucester Rugby Club, a trustee of Gloucester Harbour and Sharpness Docks as well as school governor of Stone with Woodford School, Thornbury Grammar School and Berkeley Vale School.

Basil married Mary, popularly known as Ciss, in Berkeley Church in 1954, who survives him as well as his sons Roger, David and Dennis and grandchildren Peter, Clare and Andrew.

Roger said: “He was not a career politician, but wanted to serve the local community without necessarily trying to take the credit, for everything or indeed anything that he achieved.

“Living on the job, my brothers and I would have a wonderful time with a fantastic father, who was always never very far away.

“He took us on many family outings, such as the last trip on the Aust Ferry, the day before the Severn Bridge opened. He successfully fitted this around his beloved cricket, skittles and council work, and as soon as we were old enough, we literally ‘mucked in’ and helped him with his farming work.

“I am sure many of you here will remember my father’s warm dry sense of humour. He retained that right up till his final days.”