TRIBUTES have been paid to a devoted husband of 64 years who died at Great Western Hospital on Sunday, February 6.

Eric John Webb, 88, who lived for 60 years of his life in the same house in Tiverton Road, Gorse Hill, was born at Milton Road Maternity Home on January 11, 1923, and grew up in Gorse Hill.

He married Gwen, the daughter of Gorse Hill shopkeeper Fred Alderman, at the Florence Street Mission Hall, Gorse Hill, on June 12, 1946, after he was released from the RAF following the Second World War.

During the conflict he was posted to Canada, where he trained as a navigator reaching the rank of flight lieutenant.

After leaving the RAF, his career saw him follow in his father’s footsteps. He worked in the Great Western Railway accounts department, returning to the ‘mileage department’ at GWR where he rose to a senior position before retiring in 1980 aged 59. He received a 42-year service award.

Between them, Eric and his father clocked up 80-years service for Swindon GWR as his father was employed as a carpenter for 38 years.

Outside working hours Mr Webb dedicated himself to service at the Gorse Hill Baptist Church.

His eldest son David said: “He was treasurer of the Gorse Hill Baptist Church for 25 years until 1990 which he did on a voluntary basis and he was a Christian.

“He was also a keen photographer and photographed steam trains. Father also won an award for a photograph he took of Lynton and Lynmouth before the flood disaster in 1952.”

His younger son Philip said his father entered the picture into a photographic competition in 1953.

“Father was a keen photographer from the age of 16 and I’ve just discovered negatives he took 72 years ago, including a Leyland Titan bus in Swindon in 1938,” he said “In the 1950s he took photos of family and friends and sold them as prints to help pay for more film. Father also delivered meals on wheels for the WRVS for 14 years in the Gorse Hill area.”

Mr Webb leaves his widow Gwen, sons David, Peter and Philip and five grandchildren. A private cremation will be followed by a celebration of his life at Gorse Hill Baptist Church at 11am on February 28. Family flowers only are requested.