A WELL-KNOWN member of the Hayle community who has been described as 'Mr Hayle' has died aged 79.
Town councillor Richard 'Dick' Horwell passed away at home on Sunday morning following a battle with oesophageal cancer.
As a mark of respect the town's flags were flown at half-mast – a tribute that his family said meant a lot.
Mr Horwell, involved himself in numerous clubs and groups in the town, including as a founder of the tennis club, Hayle in Bloom, the Christmas lights committee and the winter and summer carnival committees.
He was also a keen sportsman who loved football, rugby and cricket.
His daughter Sharon Chapman said: "He just had a heart of gold and nothing was too much trouble... he got involved with everything, he was just such an incredible person and myself and my sister can't thank him enough for all he did throughout our lives."
Mrs Chapman added that she would like to thank everyone who supported the family throughout her father's illness.
Mr Horwell, who was born in Hayle and lived there all his life and worked at the electric works, was married to his wife May for nearly 55 years.
The couple would have celebrated their anniversary on June 28 – on what would also have been Mr Horwell's 80th birthday.
"This is really sad, not just for the town council but for the whole of Hayle," said mayor Jayne Ninnes.
"He was the heart of the community in Hayle and this is a huge loss."
Mr Horwell stood down from Hayle Town Council before last week's local elections.
He was co-opted onto the authority in December 2004 but had also previously been a member.
Cornwall councillor for Hayle South, John Coombe said Mr Horwell was his best friend.
He said: "He was Mr Hayle – a wonderful, wonderful man. If anybody needed help Dick would not shout about it but he was there helping them out.
"Hayle will be so much poorer for his passing.
"It was a privilege for me to know him."
Jane Quick, who worked alongside Mr Horwell on the carnival and lights committees and at the tennis club also paid tribute to her friend, who she used to do short tennis coaching with.
She said: "He was a good friend and he was there if you needed him. We were both drivers getting something done and that is how it was."
Former town councillor Paul Birch also described his friend as 'Mr Hayle'.
He said: "He was so proud of his home town. He would do anything to make sure it was recognised .
"He was a marvellous man to know both as a councillor and as a friend and certainly he is going to be missed."
Mr Birch added that his friend remained upbeat through his illness, which was diagnosed last autumn.
He added: "He was determined to fight it. The last time I saw him he was bright and cheerful and even talking about hopefully joining John (Coombe) and I at the pub for a pint."
Mr Horwell is survived by his brother Glen, sister Daisy Hickman, wife May, daughters Sharon Chapman and Alison Berryman, sons-in-law Chris and Shane, granddaughter Becky Slater, her partner Lee and five-month-old great grandson Zeke.
The date for his funeral has yet to be decided but the family will advertise it on Hayle Town Council's Facebook page.
Donations will be for St Julia's Hospice and the children's hospice Little Harbour.
Mr Horwell requested that people do not wear black.
Town councillor Richard 'Dick' Horwell passed away at home on Sunday morning following a battle with oesophageal cancer.
As a mark of respect the town's flags were flown at half-mast – a tribute that his family said meant a lot.
Mr Horwell, involved himself in numerous clubs and groups in the town, including as a founder of the tennis club, Hayle in Bloom, the Christmas lights committee and the winter and summer carnival committees.
He was also a keen sportsman who loved football, rugby and cricket.
His daughter Sharon Chapman said: "He just had a heart of gold and nothing was too much trouble... he got involved with everything, he was just such an incredible person and myself and my sister can't thank him enough for all he did throughout our lives."
Mrs Chapman added that she would like to thank everyone who supported the family throughout her father's illness.
Mr Horwell, who was born in Hayle and lived there all his life and worked at the electric works, was married to his wife May for nearly 55 years.
The couple would have celebrated their anniversary on June 28 – on what would also have been Mr Horwell's 80th birthday.
"This is really sad, not just for the town council but for the whole of Hayle," said mayor Jayne Ninnes.
"He was the heart of the community in Hayle and this is a huge loss."
Mr Horwell stood down from Hayle Town Council before last week's local elections.
He was co-opted onto the authority in December 2004 but had also previously been a member.
Cornwall councillor for Hayle South, John Coombe said Mr Horwell was his best friend.
He said: "He was Mr Hayle – a wonderful, wonderful man. If anybody needed help Dick would not shout about it but he was there helping them out.
"Hayle will be so much poorer for his passing.
"It was a privilege for me to know him."
Jane Quick, who worked alongside Mr Horwell on the carnival and lights committees and at the tennis club also paid tribute to her friend, who she used to do short tennis coaching with.
She said: "He was a good friend and he was there if you needed him. We were both drivers getting something done and that is how it was."
Former town councillor Paul Birch also described his friend as 'Mr Hayle'.
He said: "He was so proud of his home town. He would do anything to make sure it was recognised .
"He was a marvellous man to know both as a councillor and as a friend and certainly he is going to be missed."
Mr Birch added that his friend remained upbeat through his illness, which was diagnosed last autumn.
He added: "He was determined to fight it. The last time I saw him he was bright and cheerful and even talking about hopefully joining John (Coombe) and I at the pub for a pint."
Mr Horwell is survived by his brother Glen, sister Daisy Hickman, wife May, daughters Sharon Chapman and Alison Berryman, sons-in-law Chris and Shane, granddaughter Becky Slater, her partner Lee and five-month-old great grandson Zeke.
The date for his funeral has yet to be decided but the family will advertise it on Hayle Town Council's Facebook page.
Donations will be for St Julia's Hospice and the children's hospice Little Harbour.
Mr Horwell requested that people do not wear black.
