Anthony Graham Bartlett, forever known as Tony to his family, friends and work colleagues, died at the Royal United Hospital, Bath last Wednesday, aged 78, after suffering from aspiration pneumonia brought on by Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Devizes on October 10, 1935, Tony was brought up in the town and attended Devizes Grammar School.

When he was 16 he joined the Fleet Air Arm branch of the Royal Navy and he was involved in the Suez Crisis of 1956 and the insurrection of Borneo in 1963, receiving campaign medals for both.

His many ‘trips’ included Kenya’s Tsavo National Park, sightseeing at Mount Vesuvius via cable car, camel-riding at Baalbek Roman ruins in the Lebanon, and even swimming in Gracie Fields’ swimming pool on the Isle of Capri.

After leaving the Navy in 1965 he gained employment at a local engineering firm in Devizes.

In 1967 he met his wife Jo and they were married the following year in her birthplace of Yelverton in Devon.

Soon after they moved to Trowbridge and Tony gained employment with Hattersley Heatton Ltd as a quality assurance inspector, remaining with the firm until its closure in 1992.

His remaining working years were spent at the Wiltshire and Swindon Learning Resource department in the old reference library until his retirement in 2000.

His hobbies included fishing, gardening, watching motor racing, but above all road running and racing, which he loved.

Shortly after his 60th birthday he developed Parkinson’s disease, but with typical grit and determination he carried on with everyday life until his death.

His son Alistair said: “Dad never let his ailment get him down, always looking on the positive side of life.

“He also believed that hard work reaps rewards, and certainly had contempt and no time for people who would not work and used the benefits system for their own ends.

“Dad was much-loved and is sadly missed. We will always remember him. He was an inspiration to many.”

His funeral will take place on Wednesday at West Wiltshire Crematorium, followed by a memorial service at the United Reformed Church in Trowbridge at 1pm.

Donations in his memory will be split between Action for Children and Parkinson’s UK, and can be made via Barker and Courtiers funeral directors, by telephoning (01225) 752637.