Former colleagues have spoken of their shock after a popular parish council chairman died this week following a short illness.

Bill Warren, chairman of Chalfont St Giles Parish Council, passed away on Monday at the age of 79.

A well known figure in the village, he moved to Chalfont St Giles in 1991 and served the parish council for ten years, being elected as chairman in 2010.

Fellow parish councillor Tim Starkey said Cllr Warren's death came as a complete shock.

He said: “I don't think anyone realised how ill he was - I'm not sure even he did.

“He was a lovely guy. He worked very hard for the village and he was a great chairman of the parish council.

“He always covered meetings with a bit of humour and with a steady hand. He let everyone have their say and ran things very well.

“He would listen to people and was very good at explaining things.

“When you saw him in the village he was a very friendly guy, very pleasant. I think everyone in the village knew who Bill was and would stop and have a chat with him.

“It's a big loss to the village, and to the council.”

Chiltern District Council leader, Isobel Darby, said: “I was devastated to learn of the death of Bill Warren.

“I really got to know him whilst working with him on the HS2 campaign and always found him to be kind, thoughtful and caring.

“He knew so much about things and always took the time to listen. Whilst being gentle and always polite, he was capable of being tough when the need arose.

“Although I probably didn’t know him as well as others, he was the sort of person who you warmed to; always taking the time to stop, say hello and exchange a few words if you were passing, a true gentleman.

"He will be sorely missed in Chalfont St Giles and the wider community where he was well respected.”

Cllr Warren is survived by his wife Marian, five children and 11 grandchildren.