A MAN who was passionate about the heritage and sensitivity of the Dart estuary has died while out walking.

Paul Folca collapsed on a footpath close to his Kingswear home on Saturday afternoon, February 13.  He was aged 82.

Paul had been chairman of the Waterhead Creek Preservation Society since October 2011 and was a founder committee member of the group since its inception 13 years ago.

He was a former Kingswear parish councillor and one time vice-chairman of the council.

A retired ophthalmic surgeon at Torbay Hospital, Paul and his wife Jennifer, a physiotherapist, came to Kingswear from London more than 40 years ago. They shared a love of sailing and had a wooden Folkboat on the River Dart.

Mrs Folca said: ‘Paul was tree warden for Kingswear and worked to protect woodland and promote community planting across the South Hams.

‘He was also passionate about animal welfare and was a supporter of the organisation Compassion in World Farming and Amnesty International.’

Paul leaves his wife and their two children, Catherine and James.

The  funeral will be held in Kingswear Parish Church at 3.30pm on Wednesday, March 2. Family flowers only.

Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, chairman of Kingswear Parish Council, said:  ‘I enjoyed working with Paul for many years.

‘He had Kingswear at heart and although I did not agree with him on everything, I certainly respected his views

‘He was very keen on the reopening of public access to Lighthouse beach.’