Former council leader Mike Goodman has died aged 75 after a routine hospital operation.

Tributes were paid to him by former council colleagues at a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council meeting.

Mr Goodman MBE, a former Commander in the Royal Navy, served on the council between 2000 and 2015 when he stood down.

He leaves a wife, Helen, and two daughters.

Current Mayor Gill Taylor said although he had been offered the mayor’s role several times he had always turned it down.

“He was a good listener and happy to give a considered opinion,” she said, adding that he had been a passionate opponent of the current Local Government Reorganisation.

“He was also the only person who had a worse picture than me in the Echo.”

Cllr Pam Nixon spoke of his ‘wicked’ sense of humour: “He was a no nonsense person, you knew where you stood with him,” she said, also praising his organisational skills, both at the council and in Upwey and Broadwey where he involved himself in many of the community events.

Said Labour councillor Kate Wheller: “I had a deep respect for him even though we were poles apart politically.”

Cllr Christine James said she had been grateful for his help when she joined the borough council and had found him constantly supportive.

Former union shop steward Cllr Paul Kimber attributed positive changes in the redundancy process during the closure of Portland to Mr Goodman, which had made the difficult process easier for hundreds of people.

Cllr Kevin Brookes described him as “a really nice bloke.”

“He will be really sadly missed, a much-loved Alderman.”

Mr Goodman was in the Royal Navy for more than 30 years and served at HMS Osprey on Portland for several years.

In 1983 he received the insignia of a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his work during the Falklands campaign as a member of the staff of the Commodore Amphibious Warfare, Portsmouth.

Mr Goodman was a keen supporter of community activities and was a past chairman of the Upwey Society.

Mr Goodman's funeral will be held at St Laurence Church, Upwey on Friday, October 26 at 12.30pm.