A FORMER councillor, estate agent founder and property developer who helped to rehouse families during the Blitz has died aged 92. George Thake, (pictured right) a central figure in the recent history of Hitchin, died on April 5 after a short illness. B

A FORMER councillor, estate agent founder and property developer who helped to rehouse families during the Blitz has died aged 92.

George Thake, (pictured right) a central figure in the recent history of Hitchin, died on April 5 after a short illness.

Born in Shefford in 1915, he attended Hitchin Boys' Grammar School before joining the Hitchin solicitors Wade and Jackson under articles.

At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Hitchin Urban District Council having been prevented from being drafted by rheumatic fever as a young man. Working in the housing department he helped rehouse families hit by the Blitz.

This involvement in housing continued after the war when his younger brother, Arthur, was demobbed and the two set up Hendales estate agency.

The partners also ran a property development company, building many houses in the town. The partnership survived for over 50 years until Arthur's death in 2004. George continued to work until nine weeks before his own death.

He served as an elected member on the Hitchin Urban District Council and on the Hertfordshire County Council during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

His wife of 54 years, Joan, died before him. He is survived by his four children, Richard, Elizabeth, Mary and Peter and by eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place on Monday at St Mary's Church, Hitchin at 2pm.