THE founder of a well-known Tunbridge Wells community group has died aged 92.

Patrick Shovelton died at his London home on January 20 after a five-month battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Helena, his daughter Nina, two grandchildren and one great-grandaughter.

Mr Shovelton was popular within the Tunbridge Wells community.

In 1991, he founded the Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons after the devastating storms of 1987 struck the area.

The group supported conservation to restore the commons in Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall, and continues to protect the areas today.

Mrs Shovelton said he put a lot of "energy" into the group and its work.

In the years following 1991, Mr Shovelton was chairman of the group and remained president until his death last week.

He and his wife split their time between a home on the Bayham Abbey estate, and a house in Islington.

They previously lived in London Road, Southborough, where Mr Shovelton campaigned against a planning application which threatened a popular garden area.

Mrs Shovelton said: "He never thought you should do something if people weren't with you."

He was also an active member of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society.

As a young man, Mr Shovelton fought in Egypt during the Second World War before returning to England to take up a civil servant role.

He later left this job to join the General Council of British Shipping and after retiring continued to work with international shipping companies and airlines.

Mrs Shovelton said he loved to spend his spare time on the golf course and playing bridge.

He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August last year.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday at St Mary's Church, in Lamberhurst, at 2pm.