A respected former councillor, magistrate and community volunteer has died.

Iris Tomlin, who died aged 87, played an active role in local life for many years, first serving the community when she began to work as a library assistant in Wallington library in 1939.

She was elected to Wallington and Beddington Council, which later merged with Sutton Council, as a Labour councillor from 1954 to 1968, and served as a magistrate at Wallington Court from 1966 to 1993.

Iris joined the army when she became 18, and in later years visited injured servicemen at Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre and supported the Territorial Army by sending books and magazines to troops serving in Afghanistan.

She worked as an analytical chemist until 1978.

In recent years, Iris was one of the founding members of the friends of Wallington Library, and worked to raise funds and improve library services as well as setting up events like the popular Coffee Concerts series.

She was also one of founders of the Wallington Forum, which was established to fight for better services, and Wallington Day - an umbrella organisation which brings the community in Wallington together and celebrates its achievements..

Iris took an active role in several local organisations, including Age Concern Wallington, the governors of Orchard Hill College and the local Sea Cadet and Girl Guide companies.

Councillor Graham Tope, Sutton Council’s spokesperson on libraries, said: "Iris had an enormous impact on her local community. From fighting for library services to her involvement with the local Housing Society and Health Board, she was always driven to make Wallington a better place for to live and work.

"She will be sadly missed."

Iris Tomlin’s funeral was held on March 29 at 1pm at Holy Trinity Church, Maldon Road, Wallington.