EVEN though it has been nearly 70 years since his death, the name of Henry Stiby is still much revered in Yeovil.

Bachelor Henry was one of the town's first Aldermen and served as Mayor of the Borough of Yeovil in 1904-1905. He was granted the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in 1926 in recognition of his great public service to the town.

Born in Sherborne in 1843, Henry Stiby lived in Yeovil for 65 years and ran the Furnishing and General Ironmon-gers store in the High Street, adjacent to the old Town Hall, in partnership with Thomas Denner, brother of Linsey Denner, the founder the town's high-class department store.

A modest man, Henry Stiby retired from the council in 1909 "largely through the great demands being made upon him by other public offices".

Henry Stiby was a man of many parts. In addition to his civic work, he was well-known as an amateur photographer and in-volved himself in such diverse subjects as the church. the blind, youth organisations, animal welfare, astronomy, cycling, microscopy, mumismatics, old prints, firearms and shooting.

His beloved town of Yeovil benefited greatly from his active life; he presented his coins, firearms, photographs and numerous other valuable artefacts to the Wyndham Museum, which was opened in 1928.

These collections now form an important part of the historical treasures preserved within the Museum of South Somerset, who have published a book on Henry Stiby called "His Life & Times".

The family link with Yeovil was renewed last week through a visit to the town by his nephew twice removed, Robert Stiby, one of the most respected figures in local radio.

Mr Stiby was in Yeovil speaking to civic leaders and leading members of the business community about the forthcoming local radio licence for Yeovil and district.

Mr Stiby is chairman of Tindle Radio, which owns six local stations in the UK and the Channel Islands, and he is also chairman of Mirage FM, the first company to campaign for a local radio station for Yeovil.

Mr Stiby visited the Mayor of Yeovil, Councillor Bridget Doll-ard at the Town House and presented her with a copy of the book about his great, great uncle.

As he was greeted at the door, Mr Stiby told the Mayor: "I am very proud to be here."

Replied Councillor Dollard: "We are very proud of Henry Stiby and appreciate all your family has done for Yeovil."

The Mayor and Mr Stiby then had their photograph taken in front of the gallery of Yeovil's past mayors, which included a portrait of his great, great uncle.

Earlier Mr Stiby had met Yeovil MP David Laws and Crewkerne district councillor Colonel Tony Dowse-Brenan.

Mirage FM is being backed by South Devon and Somerset News-papers Ltd., publishers of the Yeovil Clarion, Crewkerne Advertiser, Chard Advertiser, Pul-man's Weekly News and Honiton Advertiser.

The group is owned by Tindle Newspapers Ltd., who publish over 100 local newspapers throughout the country.

Other known applicants for the Yeovil radio licence are Yeovil and District Radio (YDRfm) and Merlin Radio.