A former mace bearer who was honoured by the Prince of Wales has died.

Richard Beale served 17 mayors and attended more than 400 engagements across the borough every year in his 15-year role at Sutton Council.

The grandfather, who received an MBE for services to local government in January 2004, died, age 71, on Wednesday, August 11.

His friend Barry Green, 65, who was himself awarded an MBE for his work as the mayor’s secretary from 1961 to 1998, said Mr Beale, who was married to Jean, was “a gentleman”.

He said: “He had a very considerable collection of coins. He had them in their thousands.

“He was a good friend and a kind and caring person.”

Sutton Council leader, Councillor Sean Brennan, said: “Richard had great dedication to duty and was always willing to go the extra mile to ensure outside engagements ran smoothly.

“He ensured our mayors carried out their role with due ceremony and dignity for the office, while providing a friendly face to the many groups he met on a daily basis.

“He carried out his duties with a quiet grace and good humour and was extremely well respected by all councillors, regardless of political party.”

Coun Brennan added: “The post of mace bearer involves working long, unsociable hours, which Richard cheerfully undertook, ensuring all our mayors received an extremely high level of care and support.”

Before his role with the council, Mr Beale, from Belmont, worked as a railway station supervisor.

Historically, the role of the mace bearer was to protect the mayor against attacks.

In more modern times, it became a ceremonial post involving assisting and advising mayors on their official duties.