A war hero and lifelong Islington resident has died at the age of 95.

Bill Millett MBE, who has been described as a “stalwart of the armed forces”, escaped his ship being torpedoed and helped rescue British soldiers from the Dunkirk while serving in the navy throughout the Second World War.

Bill, who lived in Mackenzie Road, Holloway, was also a respected community champion – chairing the Housing and the Safer Neighbourhood Panels.

He was awarded an MBE in 2003 for his charity work.

Cllr Paul Convery, councillor for Caledonian ward, said: “He was a good, decent man who lived in Islington just about all his life and he was very definitely old school.

“He really believed that people should do things the proper way, he believed in politeness and respect.

People listened to Bill, you always knew where you stood with him.”

Bill was one of the founding members of the Islington Veterans Association and turned out with colours for every ceremony on Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day.

Ron Ranger, former chair of Islington Veterans Association, said: “I knew Bill for a long time as he lived next door to my brother in law.

“He was one of the nicest people I ever met, everybody liked him. He helped a lot of people and his service in the armed forces was impeccable.

“He was a proper ex-services man, even though he was 95 he still had the guts to get out and about and do things.”

Tributes will be paid to Bill at the annual council meeting on June 12.