A FORMER York councillor has died after losing a lengthy battle against cancer, aged 66.

Richard Cregan represented the Beckfield ward for Labour between 1995 and 2003, and then the Hull Road ward between 2007 and 2011, serving on various organisations during that time.

He leaves a partner Colleen, and four children, Hollie, Kathleen, Thomas and Joseph.

Hollie said her York-born father, who lived in the Shipton Road area of Rawcliffe, suffered from three different and unrelated bouts of cancer during his lifetime. He initially developed Hogkins Lymphoma in his 20s, which he recovered from, and then breast cancer in his 40s, which he also survived.

She said he then developed prostate cancer a couple of years ago, which spread and led to a lump on his back which had to be removed surgically, meaning he had to use a wheelchair.

She said he spent six months at the Woodlands centre for neurological rehabilitation and appeared to be doing well for a while until the condition worsened and he went into York Hospital and finally St Leonard's Hospice, where he died last week. "They were fantastic there," she said.

Hollie said her father worked for many years at Rowntrees and then in recent years as a caretaker and maintenance man at York Theatre Royal, and he was also heavily involved in the York Mystery Plays, assisting with the sets.

York council leader James Alexander said the Labour Group was very sad to hear of the passing of their former colleague and long standing Labour activist.

“I always found Richard a straight forward and honest man and valued his support,” he said. “Our thoughts are with his daughter Hollie and his family at this very difficult time.”

A Labour spokesman said he served as vice-chair of the scrutiny management committee and spokesperson for the combined fire authority during his first term as a councillor.

During his second time as councillor, he was vice-chair of the east area planning committee and served on the City Strategy Advisory Panel, the Licensing Committee, the Derwenthorpe Partnership Forum, the Hull Road Residents Forum and Highway Maintenance Scrutiny Committee.

* Mr Cregan's funeral takes place at 9.40am on Friday December 5 at York Crematorium, with the family asking people to make donations in lieu of flowers to St Leonard's Hospice.