TRIBUTES have been paid to Dartmouth town ­councillor Roger Chilcott, who has died suddenly while on a pilgrims’ trail in northern Spain.

The 67-year-old is believed to have suffered heart failure last Thursday night after complaining of feeling unwell before going to bed.

Dartmouth mayor Cllr Rob Lyon described Cllr Chilcott as a man who loved Dartmouth.

‘Everything he did was positive for the town,’ said Cllr Lyon.

Cllr Chilcott had held a seat on Dartmouth Town Council since May 2011, during which time he represented both the Clifton and Townstal wards.

He was chairman of the town council’s finance committee and was the council’s representative on the Dartmouth Business Improvement District.

Recently he had became passionately involved in planning Dartmouth’s Mayflower 400 celebrations and was chairman of the town’s organising committee.

At the beginning of September he set out on the 500-mile El Camino trail to Santiago de la Compostela.

He had just passed the half-way point of the six-week journey.

His trek was also raising money for the Dartmouth Christmas lights and the Children’s Hospice South West, which he had often supported as a member

of the local fundraising committee.

In his weekly blogs, Cllr Chilcott had written about the spectacular scenery and places of interest he had visited on his walk, as well as relating details of the companionship of his fellow pilgrims from many nationalities around the world.

A retired chiropodist, Cllr Chilcott lived with Lorraine in Victoria Road, Dartmouth.

Lorraine was too upset to speak this week, but said she had been touched by the amazing kindness and generosity shown by people.

Cllr Lyon said he would remember Cllr Chilcott for his energy and enthusiasm towards all of his projects.

‘Everything Roger did – and he did a lot – he got completely involved in, with the aim of a good outcome for Dartmouth,’ he said. ‘He was one of those guys who put effort into the best places and everything he did was positive – so positive for the town and for other people.

‘He never thought about himself, it was always about others. He put in a lot of time and nothing was too much trouble for him. He was on the Dartmouth wavelength.

‘He will be sadly missed by the town ­council and by everybody involved.’