Harry Rees, former deputy leader of the Isle of Wight Council and a tireless campaigner for better funding for the Island from Europe, has died aged 86.

Harry held many civic posts on the Island as well as having businesses here.

On top of his roles on the IW Council, he was a member of Shanklin Town Council for more than 30 years, serving as town mayor in 1987.

He was also a director of the IW Economic Development Board, IW Tourism and The Riverside Centre as well as being vice-chair of the IW Community Health Council.

But it was on regional and national stages where he really campaigned for the Island.

Harry was IW Council representative to the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA), a member of the planning executive committee and vice-chair of the Joint European Committee (South East England Development Agency/SEERA).

He was tourism champion for the South East Region and was appointed director of Tourism South East by SEERA.

He also served as the IW Council's representative to the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR) and was a past president and UK vice-president of the EU Islands Commission.

On the Local Government Association, he was deputy chair of the European and International Panel and director of the Local Government Information Bureau.

He was also Government Office South East representative on the South East England's Rural Affairs Forum.

His friend and former South Wight Borough Council chief executive David Jaggar, said: "Harry was extremely passionate about his beliefs that the Isle of Wight, having regard to its status as an island and its economic performance, was not treated fairly by successive UK governments in financial terms.

"He researched extensively the relevant UK national and European statistics to prove his assertions, liaised with the ONS and its European equivalent, Eurostat, and was thoroughly conversant with the relevant legislation which enabled him to ensure as far as he could that the Island was able to benefit from certain funding regimes. "

Harry was born in Slough on June 25, 1933, to Harold and Amelia Rees.

His first wife, Olive, who he was married to for 48 years, died in 2014. In 2015 he married fellow councillor Shirley Smart.

After serving in the RAF during the Korean War in signals, he worked for Hunting Group from 1964 to 1968.

He became a director of Hawkplex Ltd in Brighton from 1968 to 1974 and became a proprietor of Morrisons Stores, Upper Ventnor, in 1974/75.

Harry became proprietor of The Fountain Cafe in Shanklin then the town's The Room at the Top, from 1977 to 2004, in partnership with Eunice Lewis

He acted as management and catering consultant to Newport FC. 1992-1994 before owning Paddingtons Toys and Models 2005-2019 in partnership with Shirley Smart.

As well as Shirley, he leaves sister Ann Braddock, who lives in New Zealand, daughters Kim and Joanne who live on the Island, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren

A restricted funeral was held at the IW Crematorium on Tuesday.

Donations to William Hall for Mountbatten.