Noel Clarke, best friend of the elderly, dies aged 85

Noel Clarke was a leading light of local charity Friends of the Old People (FOTOP), organising dozens of outings, running a drop-in centre and ferrying the town's elderly around - depite being a pensioner himself.

The former estate agent moved to Hastings after the Second World War and threw himself into local life - maintaining that helping 'the old souls' helped keep him young.

He was an active member of the congregation at All Souls Church, singing in the choir and acting as treasurer, and was governor at All Saints school.

But it was for his work with FOTOP he will be most widely remembered.

Together with his wife Bessie, Mr Clarke regularly featured in the pages of the Observer - not least when he was given the paper's Kind Heart Award along with Bessie.

A tireless worker, Mr Clarke is survived by his two daughters, son and two grandchildren.

Paying tribute to her dad, son Malcolm Clarke said: "The community was a big part of dad's life.

"Nothing was too much for him and he would do anything he could to help people.

"He was just a very kind and caring man."

Mr Clarke's funeral took place at Hastings Crematorium on Wednesday.