A ‘TRUE friend’ of Weymouth will be remembered at a fish and chip shop he used to own.

A plaque has been unveiled at Alf’s Fish and Chip shop at Fiveways in memory of Carlo Policella for his commitment to the Weymouth community.

Mr Policella, who passed away aged 80, had worked in the shop for almost 40 years and was a key member of the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club.

Members of the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club and John Pearce, the current owner of Alf’s Fish and Chip shop, together with Mr Policella’s niece Rossana Azzoli unveiled the plaque to celebrate his commitment. Born in Italy in 1930, Mr Policella moved to England in 1950 and he helped his Uncle Alf build and run the shop where he worked until 1991.

He joined the Weymouth and District Lions, now the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club, in 1969 and became club president in 1979.

The Lions Club aims to serve and raise money to help those in need in the community.

Dave Woolford, secretary of Weymouth and Portland Lions Club, said: “As a club member Carlo was very much community minded and did a lot for Weymouth in his time as a Lion.

“During his time in the town he was active in the Chamber of Commerce becoming their president in the early 1980s.

“He was also a prison visitor and a school governor. We, the Lions and John, wanted to do something to remember everything Carlo had done.”

In later life Mr Policella returned to Italy to help out his family business but was still very active in the community. This included a church restoration fund, delivering food to the needy and helping set up a volunteer ambulance service.

Mr Woolford added that while away Carlo never forgot Weymouth and often called to see how the Lions club was faring.

John Pearce, owner of Alf’s Fish and Chip shop, said: “Carlo was a true friend to Weymouth.

“Since 1964 he committed himself to so much charity work. He was a good friend to the shop and to the town.”