HUNDREDS of people are set to remember former Swindon Mayor Rex Barnett at the Old Town Festival this weekend.

The festival committee are paying tribute to the 74-year-old, who died of mesothelioma on Tuesday, by dedicating this year’s street parade to him.

His widow Sandra and their family will lead the procession from Wood Street at 11am on Saturday.

Carol Gibbon, the vice-chairwoman of the festival, said: “Rex Barnett was a great supporter of the Old Town Festival. It is poignant that he has died during our festival week.

“The Old Town Festival would like to pay tribute to Rex by dedicating this year’s street parade as a celebration to his dedication and support.

“Rex’s wife, Sandra, and their family, are going to lead the procession.

“Rex wouldn’t like us to be sad, so we are asking people to come along and simply follow Sandra and her family in their car, behind the Civic car and pay their own tribute to a wonderful man.

“We are also asking organisations that Rex supported to walk with us.”

The parade will include Cricklade band and Britannia majorettes, and will end with the Hot Steppers performing Caribbean music and dance.

To take part in the Old Town Festival parade contact Carol on 01793 522955 and then report to the information tent on The Lawn by 10.30am on Saturday.

Rex was first elected as a councillor in Penhill and Gorse Hill in the 1960s. He served as a Swindon and Wiltshire councillor in the 1960s and 1970s until pressure of work forced him to stand down.

He became a councillor for Haydon Wick in 2007 and was a founding member of Haydon Wick Bowls Club.

Club president Howard Smith said: “Rex was a great friend and a great supporter of the bowls club. He was a very competitive player in his day.

“Rex was well liked by everybody. He was just a nice person all the way round.He will be sorely missed.”

During his time as mayor Rex raised an impressive £68,000 for his three charities – Prospect Hospice, the Willows Counselling Service and the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement. A further 11 charities and good causes also benefited from that total.

John Fuller, the vice-chairman of Haydon Wick Parish Council, said: “Rex could always be counted on to liven up the meetings he attended with a forthright expression of his views.

“In collaboration with the parish council he was active in pursuing improvements in the area.

“His assistance was invaluable in pushing Thames Water and the Environment Agency to improve drainage after the 2007 floods. “Other projects in which he was involved included the new allotment site in Blunsdon Road and the traffic calming measures in Thames Avenue.

“Rex will be remembered with respect and fondness for his concern and diligence in serving the residents of Haydon Wick. “His life and service to the community will be recalled with affection in the local parish and the wider borough of Swindon for many years to come.”

Rex was also a governor at Greenmeadow Primary School. In a joint statement, headteacher Diane Pritchard and the chairman of governors, Christine Norton, said: “Rex was a governor of the school for many years “He was clearly proud to play a part in the successes the school has enjoyed.

“His contribution to full governing body meetings and premises and finance issues will be missed.”

Rex always took a keen interest in anti-bullying and special needs issues.

“His cheery disposition and presence at school functions brought a positivity to the school which was much appreciated.”