A WAR hero who stormed the beaches on D-Day and was responsible for York's water supply for 14 years has died, aged 86.

Cy Read served in the Royal Engineers with the 8th Army at the Battle of El Alamein before he led his company on to Juno Beach in the early hours of June 6, 1944.

An experience which remained with him for the rest of his life, Mr Read involved in the extremely hazardous task of clearing paths through minefields from the beaches on through France, Belgium and into Germany.

But it was his efforts at the York Waterworks company for which he will be fondly remembered in the city.

A Kent man by birth, Mr Read became a chartered civil engineer before he moved to York in 1962 as chief engineer of the Ryedale Water Board, in Malton.

He became chief engineer of York Waterworks in 1967, responsible for providing the public water supply for the City, until his retirement in 1981.

During that time, he made his mark by seeing through the first stage of the complex modernisation and extension of Acomb Landing Works, where water from the River Ouse is treated to produce York's public water supply. His work laid the modern foundations for the plant that supplies York with its water to this day.

When he retired, he became one of the city's voluntary guides, showing countless groups of visitors around York and introducing them to the wonderful history of his adopted City.

For 20 years he was a member of York's Crime Prevention Panel, becoming the chairman during the latter period.

Graham Wilford, a former managing director of York Waterworks, said: "He was passionate about helping those less fortunate than himself and so played an active part in numerous organisations, dedicated to serving the community, including Round Table and for 46 years as a Rotarian.

"He was a staunch friend to many, and had a great kindness of heart. He was a man of great courage, integrity and determination and never feared to express an opinion, often quite forcibly, but also with great humour and kindness."

Mr Read was an enthusiastic member of the Rotary Club of York, and served as its president in 1971. He was also a freemason in the Minster Lodge for more than 40 years.

He is survived by his wife Nora, who he had met in his hometown of Margate as a teenager and to whom he was married for 63 years, and a son Martin.

Updated: 09:49 Saturday, July 23, 2005