A MEMORIAL bench commemorating the life Cuddington parish councillor Peter Smith will be situated in a fitting part of village he served.

Cuddington Parish Council has decided to place the bench on Norley Road playing field within sight of his beloved tennis club.

A spokesman for the parish council said: “A donation of £350 has been made for a bench in the village commemorating Peter Smith, our former parish council chairman and secretary, who passed away earlier this year.

“The council has decided that it will go near the end of the big slide on Norley Road playing field. It will therefore be within sight of the tennis club for which Peter worked tirelessly over many years.”

Peter, who was elected onto the parish council in 1970 and served for a spell as chairman during his 37-year stint, died in June at the age of 88.

A community stalwart, Peter was a founding member of Cuddington and Sandiway Tennis Club. He helped set up the sport club in the late fifties when the two existing courts were refurbished and under his leadership and extra two courts were built.

He went on to become chairman of the village’s Playing Fields Association and played a key part in improving the children’s play area.

In 2008, Peter received the mayoral award for endeavour in the community for his services to the club.

Parish council clerk, Julie Chrimes, said Peter took immense pride in all the work he put into the community, being instrumental in setting up the table tennis club and bonfire nights.

Julie said: “He was an absolutely fantastic guy who did a great job. He had a great sense of humour and was always willing to help others.”