A FORMER Wareham mayor has died at the age of 88 - part-way through the year that his son follows in his footsteps by holding the town's top civic position.

John Baggs, known as Jack, is survived by his wife Lilian and the couple's five children David - the current Mayor of Wareham - Frank, Andrew, Richard and Christopher.

He was elected to the town's council in 1950 and became mayor of Wareham for a two-year period from 1964 to 1966.

He was also a Wareham alderman - a prestigious position on local authorities which was swept away in a reorganisation in 1974.

He did not contest the election for the Wareham Town Council when that came into existence in the 1970s, however his wife did and served a four-year term as a town councillor.

The farming family have lived at West Mill in Wareham and at Worgret for many generations and played a role in the modern history of the town and of the county.

Mr Baggs senior was active in the National Farmers' Union - he served as chairman of the local branch and as president of the Dorset young farmers' clubs.

He was also a Wareham magistrate for many years, until retiring at the age of 70, and played an important role in Wareham's 1,000-year-old court leet holding the position of "hayward" with the responsibility for what is known as the town's common land held by the Lord of the Manor.

The Baggs family continues to play an active role in the traditions of the court leet which meets annually in November.

Purbeck District Council chairman Cllr Roy Anderson paid tribute to Mr Baggs, saying: "He was straightforward - a down-to-earth farmer. He had a wonderful sense of humour and was a lovely chap for whom nothing was ever too much trouble."