Residents of Annes Walk, Caterham on the Hill came out in force on the morning of Sunday, February 5th to clear some 50 yards of thick snow so one of their number could make his last, sad journey.

Ron Cash, former chairman of the Caterham on the Hill Parish Council, passed peacefully away the evening before, just as the snow began to fall. By the time the ambulance arrived to collect him the following morning, the road was almost impassable.

Cue an extraordinary neighbourly effort of a 30-something strong snow clearing gang coordinated by next-door neighbour Viv Bruce, so the undertaker's ambulance could get up the steeply sloping street.

His son Nick said: "I was completely overwhelmed when I saw all the neighbours clearing the road for Dad, and for all their kind words when we went out to thank them.

"Obviously, we were all a little shell-shocked even though it wasn't unexpected. He had been in East Surrey Hospital for several weeks over Christmas, and since he'd been home was receiving palliative nursing care. Having our neighbours rally round at such a difficult time really meant a lot to us all."

Ron had been a parish councillor for Portley Ward since the Parish Council was set up in 2000, and served two terms as chairman. A severe stroke in 2007 forced him to step down, however, since when he had become increasingly frail, during which time he continued to live in Annes Walk with Phyllis, his wife of 59 years.

Hilary Turner, who still serves on the Parish Council, said: "Ron was a wonderful person to know and did so much to get the Hill Parish Council started and running along the right lines."