BRIAN Newell, who has died aged 84, was an integral part of the village of Yarnton for many years as parish council chairman and also taught hundreds of people deep sea diving.

Mr Newell served on Yarnton Parish Council for 18 years and was instrumental in securing a new medical centre, sports pavilion and bus shelters for the village, among other achievements.

He was a diving instructor with Oxford Sub-Aqua Club – a hobby he developed after taking his eldest son Andrew in the 1970s.

His wife Yvonne said he was a 'very friendly man' who was well liked in the village and cared about its community deeply.

Brian Newell was born on May 15, 1933 in Oxford to parents Richard, who worked at the Morris Motors factory in Cowley, and Rosemary Newell.

He grew up in Headington with his younger brother Derek and went to Margaret Road School, also known as Headington Junior Mixed and Infant School.

After leaving school he completed an apprenticeship at a technical college in Cowley Road to become a master craftsman.

His first job was at cabinet makers Greenings of Oxford, where he would work until the company went out of business in the 1960s.

He took up the role as head of technical publications for Rover Group, based in Cowley, until his retirement in 1996.

He was responsible for producing all the literature accompanying new cars and models to all the showrooms and other outlets in the country.

While working for Greenings he met his future wife Yvonne Fish – the couple met at The Forum in High Street, a popular ballroom venue that held regular dances.

Three years after their first dance they were married at St Andrew's Church in Headington on July 16, 1960.

Shortly after tying the knot they moved to Yarnton and had two children – Andrew, born in 1967, and Gregg in 1972.

His son Andrew was interested in deep sea diving, but after a number of sessions it was Mr Newell who developed a real passion for it and became an instructor at Oxford Sub-Aqua Club in Cowley.

He would teach hundreds of people how to dive over many years with the club, which celebrated its 60th birthday earlier this year.

It was for his role with Yarnton Parish Council, which he joined shortly before the turn of the century, that he was perhaps best known.

His wife Yvonne said he cared deeply about the village and its people, which stemmed from his morning walk with George the dog, during which he would speak to many people about their issues.

He was on the council for 18 years, serving 12 of those as its chairman.

Over the years he was instrumental in getting bus shelters installed throughout the village, the building of the new medical centre in Rutten Lane, and the new pavilion at Little Marsh.

As member of the village hall management committee he maintained the facility and its grounds and was often seen sweeping the car park or clearing the ditch of cans.

He died on October 29 of a bleed on the brain following a fall.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, his two sons Andrew and Gregg, and his brother Derek.

St Bartholomew's Church in Yarnton was packed for his funeral earlier this month as his many friends from the village and further afield paid tribute to him.