A “quiet gentleman” who spent more than 30 years as a member of the Oxhey Village Environment Group (OVEG) has died.

Bryan Hutt, 78, fought to protect the area from development and produced a history sheet that was regularly distributed with the group's newsletter.

However, following a brave battle against prostate cancer, he died from pneumonia in Watford General Hospital on June 30.

He is survived by his wife Beryl, also 78, their three sons and three daughters, and eight grandchildren.

Mr Hutt was born and raised in east London but during World War Two, he was evacuated to Bricket Wood.

When he left school, he went to work in telecommunications for the Post Office in Dollis Hill, and spent his entire working life employed by BT.

Mr Hutt first met his future wife at a ballroom dance class in Harrow and the couple married in 1955.

They lived together in Wealdstone and later in Rayners Lane before they moved to their home in Pinner Road, Oxhey, in 1971.

A keen cyclist, Mr Hutt joined a bike club while working in Dollis Hill before teaming up with the Harp Road Club, a cycle racing team originally based in Edgware.

As well as racing, Mr Hutt would also organise events for the club and was also on the north London committee for time trialling.

When not riding his bike, Mr Hutt liked gardening, was a member of Bushey Baptist Church and a volunteer at Bushey Museum.

Mr Hutt's eldest son Richard, 53, from Park Street, said: “He liked to be active and he liked to do things himself.

“Most of the DIY around the house he would do all of that if he could. He was a practical person and enjoyed doing those sorts of things.

“He came across as somebody who will try his hand at anything if he thinks it's within his capability.”

Mrs Hutt added: “He was generally affable, he got on with most people. He liked talking to people and he could put his hand to anything.”

Mr Hutt, however, will perhaps be best known for his work with OVEG.

A former chairman of the group, Mr Hutt first joined in the mid-1970s and was notably involved in a campaign to save the nearby Attenborough Fields from being developed into a golf course.

He also contributed to the publication of Oxhey in Pictures, which featured his Ode to Oxhey.

OVEG member Ian Mackay said: “Bryan was a quiet gentleman with a sense of humour that was very dry but none-the-less very comical. He could see humour in things right up until the end. That was his nature.

“He was never bitter, never got mad or criticised. He was a gentleman, a joy to be with and work with.”

Mr Hutt's funeral will take place at West Herts Crematorium, High Elms Lane, Garston, at 12pm on Wednesday, July 14.