A people's champion who dramatically improved the lives of the elderly for many years has died.

Tributes have flooded in for David Downton who set up Basildon Age Concern in his own home after retiring and turned it into the important supporter of pensioners that it is today.

He died of cancer at St Luke's Hospice on Tuesday at the age of 73.

Mr Downton was an inspirational figure who dedicated most of the time in his retirement years with his wife Eve to helping people in their third stage of life. He will soon have an Age Concern drop-in-centre in the town as a legacy to his achievements.

He was also a family man who would have been married to Eve for 50 years in September and had four children, David, 48, Jane, 46, Julie, 43, and Kathryn 40, and 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Angela Smith, MP for Basildon and East Thurrock, said: "The town is poorer for his passing. He was a very good man who put others first. He has left a legacy at Age Concern that he and Eve can feel very proud of."

Mr Downton received the prestigious Age Concern's Tear Drop Award last year for his services to the elderly.

He was brilliant at getting the support of businesses in the town in helping the elderly and managed to get the Age Concern offices moved from his home via a portacabin and a carpark to a proper bricks and mortar building.

With the support of Basildon's Eastgate Centre, he provided Christmas parcels and then vouchers for the elderly so they did not feel left out of the festive season.

Hans Wustefeld is general manager of the Eastgate Centre and a patron of Age Concern.

He said: "I have lost one of my best friends in Basildon.

"He really cared for the community and it is incredible what he did for the elderly in Basildon."

David Ayres, chair of Basildon Age Concern, took over from Mr Downton two years ago.

He said: "It was a pleasure to know him and get the chance to carry on his good work."

Mr Downton's wife Eve said: "We will miss him dreadfully. He died peacefully at St Luke's Hospice and we were able to stay there for five days until he passed on."

Mr Downton will be buried at Pitsea New Cemetery at 9.30am on Wednesday June 25. All his friends are welcome to come to the funeral. Any donations should be made to St Luke's Hospice.

Published Friday, June 20, 2003

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