A community figure who cared passionately for Worcester Park has died unexpectedly.

Ray Bunce, 75, who was married to Evelyn, 74, and was the father of three and grandfather of nine, died on Friday, November 16, at St Georges Hospital in Tooting.

He was admitted after experiencing numbness in his arm but died due to an unrelated problem of built up plaque in his artery.

Mr Bunce was an avid letter writer to the Sutton Guardian who enjoyed gardening and helping out at Green Lane Primary School in Worcester Park.

He had spent eight years fighting for better road safety measures around the primary school and stood as an independent candidate in the Worcester Park local elections.

Just before his death he had begun to campaign for road safety improvements at the end of Ruskin Drive.

His daughter, Amy Routley, 39, from West Ewell, remembered her "awesome" dad.

She said: "He started off in the RAF to do national service and then he went and trained as a brick layer.

"He was a big builder man but he was a softie.

"He liked making a difference and standing up for the underdog. He was very down to earth."

The headteacher of Green Lane Primary School, Sally Berlemont, said: "He gave his time incredibly generously to our school."

"He had a great sense of humour. He is a real loss to our school community - we do miss him very much."

Councillors also paid their respects to Mr Bunce including Graham Whitham, the leader of the opposition at Sutton Council, who said: "I was sorry to hear of the passing of Ray Bunce. 

"He was a regular contributor to the [Sutton Guardian] letters page and a campaigner for improving the area he lived in.  His contribution to the community will be missed."

Stonecot councillor, Miguel Javelot, said: "I admired him for his passion and the efforts he made to try to improve his local area, not least his determination to improve the area in and around Green Lane Primary School."

The funeral will be held at 10.45am on Friday, December 7, at Streatham Vale Crematorium.