FORMER CHAIRMAN: A former chairman of North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Fire Authority has died, aged 85. Geoff Rennie, who represented Hovingham and Sheriff Hutton, received the MBE in 2008 for services to the community. He died peacefully in hospital on December 23. A service of thanksgiving will be held at St Peter’s Church, Norton, at 11.30am next Monday, January 7, following a private cremation.