The town mayor has led the tributes to Peter Betteridge.Mayor of Kingsbridge, Chris Povey said he was “hugely saddened” to hear the news of Peter’s death.“He was a fantastic ambassador for the town and I think it is important for people to realise just how much he did for Kingsbridge. “Peter helped deliver the swimming pool and leisure centre that is now enjoyed by so many people, he was the original director for the Tourist Information Centre, involved with the Christmas lights, Kingsbridge fair week, Kingsbridge music festival and many more.”On a business perspective, Peter was an “exemplary retailer” who ran a prominent business in the town with great support from his family.The Mayor added that on behalf of the town council “we want to pass on our condolences to the family” and we hope that his “name will be remembered for generations”.“He was a very hard working guy who ran a successful business, but also gave so much time for everyone else. On a personal note, he will be very much missed in the deli at Mangetout where he often came in for lunch. We will miss his cheeky smile throughout the town.” People across the town were saddened by the news of the prominent South Hams businessman's death, aged 71.

The Kingsbridge-based furniture and furnishings retailer was well-known throughout the South Hams and beyond. He was active in the community and was a leading figure in the campaign to get a swimming pool built in the town and one of the key figures behind the town’s tourist information centre.Tributes from readers have started to come in. As well as tributes on our Facebook pages, Peter and Trisha Howard of Woolston near Kingsbridge, in a letter to the editor wrote: "It is hard to find anyone who has done more for Kingsbridge in the last 40 years - from founding and expanding a successful retail furniture business with two branches in Fore Street and several elsewhere in Devon, to throwing himself into public life via the information centre to saving the Crabshell pub and restaurant from demolition."He believed in preserving the best of the town from outside developers even when the big guns of South Hams District Council were against him - have a swim in the Kingsbridge leisure centre pool and spare a moment to thank Peter for his efforts in recognising the need for this facility for Kingsbridge."