A Beckton councillor who served the borough for nearly three decades has been remembered with a memorial plaque.

Alec Kellaway, who passed away last June following a short illness, was a councillor for 27 years.

The memorial, unveiled on Thursday by Sir Robin Wales, the Mayor of Newham, is situated by an apple tree in the Renfrew Rain Garden.

Councillors, schoolchildren, community groups and Cllr Kellaway’s family all gathered to pay tribute.

Sir Robin said: “I will always remember Alec as an honest, honourable, hard working and thoroughly good man who worked tirelessly to enhance the lives of local residents.”

The 61-year-old, who was mayoral advisor for finance and chair of the Investment and Accounts Committee, lived in Beckton and had first been elected as a councillor to South Ward in 1987, representing the Social Democratic Party Liberal Alliance.

He was re-elected as a Liberal Democrat in 1990 and 1994, then as a Labour councillor in 1998.

He represented Beckton Ward for Labour since 2002.

An economist and market researcher by profession, he was also a lay reader in his church, a keen amateur musician and a school governor.

Sir Robin added: “He was also a lifelong campaigner for the borough of Newham as a whole and continues to be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

“He will be fondly remembered for many things, including making cakes for meetings and providing hot meals at St Mark’s Church in Beckton.

“This plaque will act as a lasting memory of a man who dedicated his life to Beckton and its local communities.”

The memorial was organised by the Beckton and Royl Docks Community Neighbourhood Team.