Railway signalman Dave Walden died peacefully at home on Sunday, May 17 after suffering with a short illness, aged 71.

David Warren Walden was born on March 14, 1944 in New Milton, Hampshire. At age 14, the Walden family moved to Southampton and Mr Walden carried on his education at Bitterne Park Secondary School.

Growing up along the main railway line between Bournemouth and London Waterloo, Mr Walden and his brother Phillip would spend a lot of time train watching and he would often combine his love of trains with photography.

After he left school aged 16, Mr Walden got a job at a printing shop in Southampton and completed an apprenticeship.

His apprenticeship was extended until he was 23 when the photo shop closed down. In search of a new adventure, he moved to Trowbridge in 1967 securing a job at Redwood Press.

Mr Walden stayed in the house he moved into for the rest of his life and he retired from the printing industry at 60.

Still enthusiastic to live out his childhood loves, Mr Walden got a job at Bradford on Avon train station working in the ticket office for First Great Western.

His funeral will take place on Monday, June 15 at Semington Crematorium at 1pm.

Family flowers only. Donations if desired will be made to the Severn Valley Railway.