A “gentleman” town councillor who was suffering from lung cancer has died after contracting Covid-19.

Bill Chapman, Conwy town councillor for the Marl ward, was a former mayor, chair of Aberconwy Labour Party and a Justice of the Peace.

Mr Chapman, universally described as “a gentleman”, was suffering from lung cancer when he contracted coronavirus.

A message on the Aberconwy Labour Facebook page said he died at Ysbyty Gwynedd on Thursday.

The page posted a tribute from his family which said: “The Chapman family are devastated to inform you that Bill Chapman passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

“Bill was a much loved husband to Pat and father to Lucy and Elinor.

“He was a much loved Taid to Sophia and Joseph and well respected father-in-law to Stuart.

“He suffered from Covid-19 on top of his lung cancer.

“He was well cared for by the amazing staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd, to whom we are extremely grateful. Pat, Lucy and Elinor.”

The local Labour Party in Aberconwy said it was “devastated” by the news and called Mr Chapman “an absolutely lovely man, charming, honest as the day is long”.

They also said he was a “true socialist” and a “rock solid Labour man” whose “compassion was boundless”.

It added: “We are proud he was Chair of Aberconwy Constituency Labour Party for many years.

“Bill was an incredibly hard-working campaigner, believing to his core that people deserve the best of life.

“This passion drove Bill and was why he conscientiously represented the people of his ward on Conwy Town Council for years, with an unrivalled understanding of how important local authorities are to the lives of ordinary people.”

Mr Chapman also won friends from across the political divide.

One of them, independent Conwy county councillor for Deganwy and cabinet member for education, Julie Fallon, said: “So incredibly sad to hear the news that Bill Chapman has passed away.

“One of the nicest people it has been my honour to know. My love and thoughts go to his equally lovely wife Pat and their daughters.”

A fervent supporter of the Welsh language, Mr Chapman was also fluent in Esperanto.

He did much to promote Conwy town, even travelling to Japan in October last year to witness the historic twinning of Conwy Castle with the ancient Himeji Castle, despite suffering from lung cancer.

The Japanese castle featured in the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice.

His hosts, learning of his illness, initiated an ancient Japanese custom called “Senbazuru” involving the collective folding of origami cranes, regarded as holy creatures, and sent them to him.

The gesture, which involved 1,000 of the paper cranes being tied together as a prayer for his recovery, was not lost on him.

Mr Chapman, who said at the time his tumour had shrunk, added: “The parcel arrived at my house unexpectedly. It was very poignant and I was deeply touched – I’ve never received anything like it in my life.”

He is survived by his wife Pat, daughters Lucy and Elinor and his grandchildren Sophia and Joseph.