FORMER York councillor and businessman Albert Bond, of Wenham Road, Foxwood, York, has died following a long illness. He was 75.

Born in York, he spent his childhood in a Dr Barnardo's home in the South of England, and returned to the city as a teenager.

His long career took in a variety of businesses, many of them based in and around the Clifton area of York.

Over the years he set up and ran his own removals firm, Bonds Removals, ran the former Clifton "coin-op" laundry, Wilkins newsagency in Clifton, the Bedford Hotel in Bootham, the Green View Guest House in Clifton, Vittles restaurant near Micklegate Bar, and, in his later years, the Circle Launderette in Acomb.

He was a Conservative councillor on York City Council for more than ten years, and served on numerous committees, as well as sitting on several school governing bodies.

He also worked as a Citizens' Advice Bureau officer and a Marriage Guidance Council (now Relate) committee member.

He was a director of York Rugby League Club and was also a vice-president of York City Football Club for a time.

Mr Bond was married three times and leaves ten grandchildren.

His first marriage was to Betty, with whom he had two daughters, Denise and Joanna. He then married Maureen and had three more daughters, Sharon, Tracy and Gemma.

Late in life, he met his third wife Wiboonsri while on holiday in Thailand, and their son, Burawit, was born when he was 64.

His daughter, Sharon, said: "He was a really outstanding man. He did so much and filled his life and still had time for all of us. He never stood still. He was a remarkable man and will be sadly missed by all his family."

Mr Bond's funeral took place on Wednesday at York Crematorium.

Updated: 15:42 Friday, February 01, 2002