A former Penryn mayor and Helston clergyman has died aged 81.

The Reverend Donald Forway was appointed Methodist minister at Penryn in 1974 following his retirement from running “Tom’s Travel Lodge” drivers’ cafe on the Redruth by-pass with his wife of 58 years, Josephine.

He served Penryn as a Rotarian, elected borough councillor and as mayor from 1978 to 1980. Later in life, following a spell in Mevagissey, Rev Forway spent five years as district superintendent at Helston.

During his time in the town he oversaw the refurbishment of the historic Wesley Church in Coinagehall Street, which gained a new floor when a former gallery was turned into a worship centre.

The last years of his life were spent with Josephine in a house near St Agnes that he himself had designed. Both were active in the Methodist church at St Agnes and Rev Forway continued to conduct services until 2004.

Last April Josephine, aged 77, passed away at their home in Goonvrea.

Rev Forway died at the Royal Cornwall Hospital on January 1, following a long illness.

A minute’s silence was held in his honour at January’s meeting of Penryn Town Council.