TRIBUTES to a man of great 'courtesy and integrity' were paid at his funeral service at Crediton Parish Church.

Derek Lion, who moved to Crediton in the 1960s, played a key role as a youth officer with Devon County Council, as well as being an active member of Crediton life.

Moving from Surrey, Derek and his wife Olive and family, quickly became an integral part of the Crediton community.

They were regular members of the congregation at the Church of the Holy Cross and part of the lay ministry.

Derek was a member of the Rotary Club and a founder of the Crediton Operatic Society.

He was also a member of the Force cancer charity, the Boniface Link Association, the twinning association, the history society, and Probus, and was chairman of the Crediton and District Access Group.

Derek leaves a daughter Hilary, son-in-law Jo, Alice, his granddaughter, and grandson Philip.