John Rowe, 92, of Royal Wootton Bassett, was originally named Jack, but when he started school his teacher claimed that Jack was not a proper name, and insisted on his being known as John.

As a result, Mr Rowe received two sets of call-up papers for military service, and was issued with two ration books.

He was known to some people as Jack and to others, including many in Wootton Bassett, as John.

Mr Rowe, a Londoner, was a sales assistant at Harrods after leaving school, and joined the RAF towards the end of the Second World War.

He spent some time in Holland before being posted back to the Reading area, where he and his late wife Ros first met and married. They lived in Croydon and John worked on the trams and buses, as a driver.

He was a lifelong supporter of Chelsea Football Club whose theme song, Blue is the Colour, was played as entry music at Kingsdown Crematorium in Swindon, where a large congregation celebrated his life.

His son Andy recalled that in more active years he rarely missed a Chelsea home game.

Mr Rowe loved classical music, and one of his favourite works, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, was played at the funeral service.

His daughter Sue Davies recalled his delight in listening to the Last Night of the Proms. He had also helped for some years with his late son-in-law’s band.

Mr Rowe was always ready to offer a helping hand to those in need, and was a loving, generous family man who took pride in the achievements of his two daughters, son, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He had a fund of interesting stories from the past.

In Wootton Bassett, Mr Rowe was chairman and former treasurer of the Arthritis Research committee, on which his late wife also served for many years.

He was a regular member of St Bartholomew’s Church and for several years was the church’s electoral roll officer.

He worked for the Post Office engineers (now Open Reach) and prior to retirement he enjoyed being a postman, a job that brought him into contact with many local people.

He was active until last year, when his health began to fail, and he spent some weeks in a care home before his death.

Donations for Arthritis Research UK (via the local branch) may be sent to Maslin Funeral Service, 118a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU.