A FORMER York council chief died after a fall down a flight of steps outside a city hotel.

Roy Howell, who was chief executive of York City Council between 1974 and 1982, was leaving a Rotary Club meeting at the Churchill Hotel when he lost his footing and struck his head on the pavement last year.

The 89-year-old, described as a “larger-than-life figure” and “an outstanding local government officer”, suffered a fractured skull and died in hospital the next day.

An inquest heard Mr Howell, whose 30 years in local government also saw him serve as the council’s treasurer and clerk, had maintained an active social life despite a stroke in 1992 and was attending the club’s weekly lunch at the hotel in Bootham on August 6 last year when he fell.

“I saw him at the top of the steps and it went through my mind that he was going to try to come down unaided, so I told him to stay there and I would help him,” his friend and fellow Rotary member Alan Vincent told the inquest.

“But he took the first step and then came falling past me. It was really, really sickening.”

In a statement, hotel receptionist David Perry said he heard the fall and called an ambulance, adding: “I held his hand and tried to reassure him help was on its way.

“His walking frame was at the front of the steps because somebody had carried it down for him. There were no obstructions in reception or on the steps.”

Mr Howell’s daughter, Vivienne Thomas, said her father, who lived at Beaumont Care Home in Stamford Bridge, had suffered falls in the weeks before his death. She also said he was a Rotary member for 53 years and regularly attended meetings.

The steps were assessed by City of York Council’s senior environmental health officer, Kerry Bell, who said health and safety guidelines had been followed.

Recording an accidental death verdict, York coroner Donald Coverdale said: “Mr Howell was a popular Rotary Club member, with members rallying round to arrange transport for him so he could enjoy its meetings.”

Mr Howell was awarded an honorary master’s degree from the University of York in recognition of his contribution to the city, chaired the York Community Fund and was involved with groups including Acomb Methodist Church and the Merchant Adventurers.