Tributes paid to 100-year-old veteran from Ironbridge
Tributes have been paid to a 100-year-old Ironbridge man, thought to have been be one of the oldest surviving members of the royal artillery to fight in World War Two.
Geoffrey Hickman, from Ironbridge, died at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital on Thursday.
He had celebrated his 100th birthday last October with dozens of friends and a brass band.
His son, Graham Hickman, said that Mr Hickman senior was very well known in Ironbridge.
"He was very kind and he brought us up properly," he added.
"When he retired from the royal artillery he moved to Ironbridge and opened a grocery firm called J C Lloyds and Sons Ltd which was open from 1950 to about 1973.
"He had two granddaughters and a great-grandson. They loved him dearly as did Ironbridge.
"He was a character in the town, he always had time for everybody. He was very popular with visitors to the town.
"He was always telling stories about his life and what he got up to when he was in the war.
"He as in Monte Cassino in Italy, which was allegedly the most violent battle in World War Two.
"He loved the Italian cities, particularly Florence as he liked all the statues and paintings impress him. He was also impressed by opera."
Mr Hickman senior bred dogs in his later years and liked gardening.
Mr Hickman junior added: "In his later years he bred basenji dogs, a bred of African dogs.
"He bred them with my mother Joyce before she passed away in 1989.
"He also maintained a very well-kept garden. He also liked reminiscing, he was a very intelligent man."
Mr Hickman senior was a former 2nd Medium Regiment Royal Artillery Gunner.
Before he moved to Ironbridge he lived in Market Drayton.
