THE family and friends of Cinderford councillor Clive Brain have paid a heartfelt tribute to him.

The 69-year-old grandfather died last Thursday following a battle with cancer. Clive, a miner's son who was born in Lydbrook, served on various councils for more than 30 years.

His son Phil Haynes, the Police Superintendent for the Forest, called him "a nice, honest Forester."

"He would always stand up for the Forest and wouldn't stand for anyone abusing it," he said.

"He had a lot of time for the community and spent many years on local councils.

"The principles he drove home to us were to be open, honest and genuine."

Clive worked as a design engineer at Rank Xerox in the firm's heyday in Mitcheldean. After being made redundant as the company gradually shed all of its workforce, he took his design skills and worked in electronics and engineering.

"He was a loving, caring, family man," said his son, Andrew.

"He loved this area, was interested in its history and was very concerned about the regeneration of Cinderford and the future of the wider Forest.

"He was very passionate about protecting what we have here and gave a speech during the events to save Colliers Court and the Dilke and Lydney Hospitals."

Clive was a district councillor between 1979 and 2011 but chose not to stand at the last election.

He also served on Cinderford Town Council for more than 20 years, having first been elected onto it in 1991.

Coun Norman Stephens, chairman of the district council, said: "As the ward member for Cinderford, and previously for Drybrook, he always had the interests of his area at heart.

"He was a very good ward member and once he got his teeth into something he wouldn't let it rest.

"He was a great debater in the council chamber – amongst the best I've ever seen – and I shall always remember him as a man of great principle.

"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

Clive leaves behind his wife, Julie, daughters Helen and Laura, sons Richard, Phillip, Andrew, seven grandchildren and sisters Grace and Iris.