A former Mayor of Marlow who sadly passed away this week has been hailed as a legend of the town.

Ivor Coleman, who died on Monday aged 72, represented the town council for about 25 years and was said to be honoured to be Mayor of the place he was born and lived for his whole life.

He initially turned down the chance to take over the mayoral duties after being given only six months to live by doctors in the mid-1990s after being diagnosed with cancer of the gullet.

However, he was able to beat the cancer and took the reigns as Mayor of Marlow in 1996 and never looked back with Sharon Daly, one of his three daughters, praising him for the help he gave to others.

She described her father as "friendly, chatty and cheerful" man and said he was most happy when he was wearing his mayoral chains.

She said: "He was a very kind person and was always there for everyone. Most people knew him, and if he was a councillor or not he always had time to take phone calls or speak to people in public.

"He was born in Marlow as the youngest of eight children and he loved the area.

"Looking through pictures of him now, he always had the biggest smile when he was wearing his mayoral chains.

"He loved being mayor and doing his bit to make a difference to the town and in people’s lives."

Ivor - who had three children, seven grandchildren and more than 10 great grandchildren - went on to represent the town as mayor for a second time in 2002 and the Liberal Democrat was also deputy mayor on five occasions during his time in office.

As well as his work with the council, he was also a classic car enthusiast and was often found at rallies or seen driving his cars around the town.

After leaving Holy Trinity School as a teenager he started working in the building trade before signing up to join the Whitbread brewery, where he worked for 23 years.

In politics, he was first co-opted onto Marlow Town Council in 1975 and despite a few sporadic years of absence he was considered as an ever-present with the council and the town until 2011 when he stepped down because of ill health.

Current Mayor of Marlow Suzanne Brown said: "Ivor was a really special person. He was ever so kind and a very gentle man. He was one of the nicest men you could meet.

"I didn’t know him at the time he was mayor, but I have heard he was very good and always had time for people.

"It is incredible that he did so much with his life, considering about 17 years ago he was given only six months to live.

"He was just a really nice guy; he was someone you could always talk to, very friendly and down to earth."

Ivor leaves behind a big family, including his second wife Pam who had been nursing him over the last three years alongside other family members.

His daughters have praised their step-mother for her help in looking after him following the death of their mother Vera in 2005 and also highlighted the efforts of his nephew and namesake Ivor Portnall, who they say was always happy to help.

The former councillor died two days after suffering a heart attack which came after he was hit by a chest infection.

Since his death, hundreds of tributes have also been left to Ivor and his family and friends on social media, with many calling him a "legend of Marlow".

Did you know Ivor? Share your memories by emailing bfpnews@london.newsquest.co.uk or writing to Bucks Free Press, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, HP10 9TY.