The man who helped make Crawley the town it is today has passed away.

Kenneth Newell, 82, was chief executive of what is now Crawley Borough Council from 1974 until he retired in 1984.

At a time when Crawley was booming and undergoing rapid development, Mr Newell was instrumental in transforming its status from an urban district to a borough.

He was also involved with the town's twinning with Dorsten in Germany.

Mr Newell, who lived with his wife Patricia, 79, in Henfield, died on June 14 after a lengthy illness involving cancer of the prostate and kidney failure.

He spent a large part of his local government career in Crawley, joining in 1956 as deputy clerk in the very first year of Crawley Urban District Council.

As well as his wife, Mr Newell leaves behind three children, seven grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.

His son Kevin, 57, a solicitor from Hurstpierpoint, said: "He was very kind and would do anything for his family. He was well liked and had a lot of good friends."

Labour Councillor Bernard Clay, 78, who represents Ifield, recalled Mr Newell's long service to the town. He said: "He was a first class chief executive. He was the sort of guy who ran things and never suffered fools gladly.

"Crawley has a lot to thank Ken for. In the early Seventies, the Commission for New Towns was broken up and Ken fought to hand a lot of the land over to the borough. Ken was there from the early days and did a great deal for Crawley."

Prior to his career with Crawley, Mr Newell worked for a number of other councils. He began his career in the legal department of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford in London from 1941 to 1947. He also worked in Hemel Hempstead from 1954 to 1956.

During the Second World War, Mr Newell served in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy from 1942 to 1946. Most of this time was spent as an electrician aboard an aircraft carrier in Australia.

Mr Newell was an Arsenal supporter and enjoyed playing golf.

As a younger man, he also enjoyed playing football and cricket.

A funeral service was held at Worthing Crematorium last Wednesday.