A COMMUNITY stalwart who made such an impact on a village they named a road after him has died aged 86.

John Reginald Bellamy spent much of his life working on the railway but dedicated his post-retirement years to the village of Crowmarsh near Wallingford.

The father-of-three, who passed away on July 20, served as chairman of the parish council for 30 years.

His time as a council leader saw Mr Bellamy make contributions to the construction of a number of key buildings as well as fighting, when necessary, on behalf of residents.

Mr Bellamy was born on December 18, 1931.

The oldest of five children, he was raised in Twyford, Berkshire, where, as a boy, he was a keen footballer.

His father worked on the railway and, on leaving school, Mr Bellamy followed in his father’s footsteps and began work in the railway industry as a clerk at Henley Station.

It was around this time that he met his future wife Edwina in Reading when he served as a relief clerk in her office. The pair tied the knot in 1955 and they began life together in Reading.

They had three children together – Pamela, Jane and David.

In 1961, the family moved to St Austell in Cornwall, where he was appointed a station manager.

Two years later they moved to North Devon and Mr Bellamy was made area station manager.

In 1967 the family made the move back to this part of the country, where they lived in a home in Crowmarsh Gifford.

Mr Bellamy instantly embedded himself in life in the village while carrying on with his career in Bristol, Swindon and, finally, Paddington.

His retirement at the age of 55 enabled him to devote even more of his time to the village.

He joined the parish council and, a short while later, was voted in as chairman in 1978 – a role he retained for three decades.

During his time as the head of the council he was involved in the building of a new village hall, a pavilion, and a recreation ground boasting a children’s playground and a tennis court.

Mr Bellamy also took on the battle to stop an arts park being built on the riverside meadows and won.

He ran village fetes, Christmas bazaars, a film club, children’s dance club, regular bingo, firework nights, supported the Crowmarsh boys football club and there is now a Bellamy Cup which is awarded every year.

He was also chairman of the village hall committee and produced the Crowmarsh News parish pamphlet, along with his wife, for more than 20 years.

In 2013 the village recognised his efforts by naming a road after him, Bellamy Way.

As his health started to fail him he stepped back from being actively involved in village life.

He continued to play indoor bowls at the pavilion and kept up with what was happening in the village.

As well as being a husband and father he also has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Mr Bellamy is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.