Tributes have been paid this week to a “larger than life” Rotarian, surveyor and auctioneer who died last month aged 75.

Friends and family have spoken of their respect and affection for John David Richardson, a former chartered surveyor and estate agent in Stevenage who died peacefully on June 11.

JR, as he was known to his friends, was also an auctioneer at Kennedy and Richardson in Royston for over 30 years.

His daughter Julie said: “He was an extremely good auctioneer both on the rostrum where he stood no nonsense and at charity auctions for Rotary and other organisations where he always gave his time free.”

A long-standing member of Stevenage Rotary Club, he was awarded the organisation’s highest honour, The Paul Harris Fellow for his charity work. He was also an active member of the Stevenage Carnival committee for many years - helping to raise thousands of pounds for charities in the town as well as sponsoring a number of overseas students.

Friend Peter Lee said: “Life would be very boring without people like John around. He came from a generation in Stevenage Old Town of similar people who shaped its community. Many like John were larger than life characters whose like we will not see again.”

He leaves a wife Sylvia, daughter Julie and grandchildren Ellen and Millie.