Tributes have been paid to a Norfolk man who held many of the county's leading roles and who was a 'dedicated and tireless' advocate for countless organisations.

Wymondham & Attleborough Mercury: Margaret Thatcher pictured leaving County Hall, Norwich, with John Alston, leader of Norfolk County Council. Date: Aug 1981Margaret Thatcher pictured leaving County Hall, Norwich, with John Alston, leader of Norfolk County Council. Date: Aug 1981 (Image: Archant)

Landowner John Alston, 77, who died yesterday, was a long-standing leader of Norfolk County Council, chairman of Norfolk Health Authority, a Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Norfolk.

Mr Alston, who leaves his partner, Milo O'Sullivan, a brother and two sisters, was owner of Besthorpe Hall, near Attleborough.

Close friend Paddy Seligman is chairman of the EDP We Care Appeal.

She said: 'John was the pioneer of the Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers (later the EDP We Care Appeal), which he encouraged me to chair.

Wymondham & Attleborough Mercury: John Alston and Sir Jeremy Bagge. Photo: Matthew Usher.John Alston and Sir Jeremy Bagge. Photo: Matthew Usher.

'I've worked with him for 17 years and come to respect his sound judgement and total dedication to anything he became involved with.'

Mrs Seligman added that Mr Alston 'worked tirelessly and conscientiously for every organisation he was associated with'.

Among numerous roles, Mr Alston was:

• Elected to Norfolk County Council in 1973, leader of the council from 1981-1987 and 1989-1993, and chairman in 1988-89.

Wymondham & Attleborough Mercury: Besthorpe Hall EstateAttleboroughJohn AlstonBesthorpe Hall EstateAttleboroughJohn Alston (Image: Copyright Johnny Watton 2012)

• Chairman of Norfolk Health Authority from 1996-2002.

• A trustee of Norwich City Football Club.

• Vice-chairman of the Council of the University of East Anglia from 1986-2002.

• Chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival Trust until 2013.

• Chairman of the Norfolk Diamond Jubilee Committee.

• High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2004-5.

• Appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk from 1991 until he was 75.

• He was made a CBE in 1988.

For a comprehensive obituary and more tributes to Mr Alston, see tomorrow's EDP.