THE Acting Dean of York thanked God for Rod Hills' service to the community, during the former council leader's funeral at York Minster.

Canon Glyn Webster also spoke of the "last difficult years" of Mr Hills' life, and of the humanity and honesty of an assertive and forceful personality.

"It was his honesty which prevented him accepting the Mayoralty," he said.

He drew comparisons with St Paul, who could be "very difficult indeed", was always telling people off and telling them "what to do and what to think", but also had a concern for the welfare of others.

The 30-minute service was held in the cathedral's Choir yesterday afternoon, just over a week after Mr Hills died of natural causes in a housing association flat in Chapeltown, Leeds. The retiring collection was donated to the British Heart Foundation.

Mr Hills' death came after a traumatic 18 months, during which he was charged with a number of serious criminal offences, including blackmail and witness intimidation, which were all subsequently dropped. A further investigation into the death of his second wife, Carol Wallace, was opened earlier this year, but then ended on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Many former fellow councillors and officers, including Labour group leader Coun Dave Merrett and former Tory group leader John Galvin, joined family and friends at yesterday's service, as well as Selby MP John Grogan.

Canon Webster said that, on behalf of the people of York and the wider community, and of the University of York, he offered sympathy and concern to Mr Hills' sons, Matthew and George, at this "sad and difficult time".

He said: "We cannot deny the last difficult years of your dad's life."

Not many people in the congregation could say they had not fallen out with Mr Hills. "Rod was fully human."

He said: "We should thank God for the man that led City of York Council for 17 years, and led it in a good way. A forceful way, yes, but always extremely fairly."

He had led the council through its transformation into a unitary authority and played an enormous part in helping York to become what it was today - a thriving city.

He also spoke of the contribution Mr Hills made to the life and work of the university over a large number of years.

"We are very glad indeed that the university was such a source of support and help to him in the last couple of years. It was very important he continued to work there."

He said Mr Hills had been regarded as an effective and challenging teacher of others.

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, August 07, 2003