FRIENDS, relatives and former colleagues of a former Hampshire and New Forest councillor braved stormy weather to honour his efforts for the community.

Jack Maynard, who died last year, helped see Hampshire's Calshot Activities Centre survive some stormy times when it was threatened with closure at the turn of the 1990s.

Present councillors, including New Forest District Council leader Mel Kendal, former leader John Coles and chairman John Hoy, were among the group who faced up to the wind and rain which came sweeping in from the Solent and remembered his efforts.

They gathered for the official naming of Jack Maynard Road, which runs parallel with Calshot Beach and takes thousands of people of all ages to Calshot Activities Centre every week.

Councillor Maynard played a prominent part in forcing the county council to keep Calshot open and Councillor Hoy said: "As a district and county councillor he did a tremendous amount of work in the community and was very well-known for the work he did. Every time I pass along this road I'll remember Jack for all that work."

In welcoming the road naming, his widow Barbara said: "It's nice that Jack is still being remembered on the road leading to the activities centre which he was instrumental in saving.'' Among the stalwarts of the Echo-backed 'Calshot not Calshut' campaign who attended were Bob Maidment and Derek Ellard of the Calshot Association.

Mr Maidment reflected: "We had a road with no name and without people like Jack, we'd have had a Calshot with no activities centre."