Tributes to 'gentleman' who served in RAF

Tributes have been paid to a "lovely gentlemen" who undertook 30 RAF operations in Germany during World War Two in a military career which spanned more than 40 years.

Retired Air Commodore Basil Hamilton CBE, DFC, AFC, spent more than 25 years working with the Royal British Legion in Church Stretton helping to organise Poppy Appeal collections and Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

He also served on Church Stretton Town Council for a number of years.

He moved to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, with his wife Margaret, who he was married to for 65 years, last year and died on Saturday aged 86 after a battle with cancer.

His daughter Rosie Stone said he would be remembered as a "friendly" and "personable" figure who was "greatly respected" in the community.

She said: "A lot of the cards of sympathy we have received have said what a lovely gentleman he was, and the word gentleman comes up a lot.

"He was friendly, outgoing and very personable. He was greatly respected in the community."

Bob Welch, mayor of Church Stretton, said he had known Basil during his role as chairman of Churchill Road Residents' Association in the town.

He said: "I have great respect for Basil. He was always a perfect gentleman and was very committed to supporting the local community - he was a lovely man."

Mr Hamilton served with 625 Squadron flying Lancasters during the later stages of the Second World War, and also served in Canada, Australia and Singapore and had spells as Station Commander of RAF Swinderby and RAF Halton.

While in Singapore he worked for the South East Asia Treaty Organisation, which was a partnership between the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the Philippines.

His grandson has followed in his footsteps by joining the RAF and is currently on deployment in Las Vegas.

Mr Hamilton's funeral is at Oakley Wood Crematorium, near Warwick, at 2.30pm on Tuesday.