BRYAN Cubitt, a community stalwart in Belton and the last in a wet fish dynasty that spanned more than 100 years, has died aged 75.He was the last surviving member of the family to work in the business W E Cubitt and Sons.

BRYAN Cubitt, a community stalwart in Belton and the last in a wet fish dynasty that spanned more than 100 years, has died aged 75.

He was the last surviving member of the family to work in the business W E Cubitt and Sons. After his grandfather started the business his three sons, Bryan's father and two uncles, joined IT and later Bryan was the only member of the following generation to become involved.

The first shop opened by his grandfather was in Northgate Street, followed by one in Fuller's Hill and later one in King Street.

When Bryan joined the business a further shop opened in Gorleston High Street.

Eventually the King Street shop was sold and the Fuller's Hill shop was swept away by the new road; the last shop to close being Bryan's in Gorleston High Street in about 1988.

Bryan then went on to run a van-based wholesale fish business off Lowestoft fish market supplying top local hotels and restaurants and continued until retirement in 2005. Although the name was then sold on, there are no family members in the business now.

Bryan was secretary to Gorleston Chamber of Trade when it started and since his retirement had been involved in Belton as treasurer of Belton and District Historical Society and secretary of Lothingland Produce and Craft Show.

Chairman of Belton Parish Council Malcolm Scott said Bryan was a great friend to Belton who helped get the historical society off the ground, adding: “He was a lovely man with a very good sense of humour. A great friend to the village he will be sadly missed.”

In 2007, his then home, Thatched Cottage on Station Road South at Belton featured in The Mercury as part of an April Fool's joke when he agreed to pretend that a fee was to be charged for all photos taken of the property. He was shown on the cover of the Village Voice magazine with what was supposedly the certificate giving permission for pictures to be taken.

Bryan suffered serious illness recently and moved to Gorleston. He leaves a widow Mary and two sons. His funeral was at St Andrew's Church, Gorleston, on Wednesday.