WILLIAM Albert (Bill) Byford, 92, was remembered fondly by a large congregation at Kingsdown Crematorium on December 3.

Bill and his wife Yvonne were both well known at Wootton Bassett, where they lived from 1957 until their health declined and they moved into the White Lodge, Braydon.

Bill was a former churchwarden at St Bartholomew’s Church, Wootton Bassett, and for some years was a committee member and treasurer of Community, the town magazine.

He was born and raised at Ilford, Essex, and was a keen sportsman. During wartime service in the Army he played football with famous England International Tom Finney. Bill was conscripted in 1941, when he was 18. He served in the Tank Regiment and fought in various theatres of war, including North Africa and Greece. He was demobbed in 1947 and first met Yvonne when they were colleagues at the North East Railway office in London. They were married in 1950, and lived in Essex, where they had many friends and Bill enjoyed involvement in amateur dramatics. The family settled at Wootton Bassett in 1957, when his job as a management accountant with Burmah Oil was relocated to Swindon. He was a former treasurer of the PTA at the local secondary school (now Royal Wootton Bassett Academy). He loved books, sport, puzzles and involvement in the community. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, to whom granddaughter Ellie and grandson Josh paid warm tribute at the service, conducted by the Rev Vicki Burrows, to celebrate his life. Bill was kind, faithful, dependable, encouraging, and always ready to give his time to benefit others, including his family and many friends.

Cherished memories were shared in his grandchildren’s amusing anecdotes about his life with the family, his church involvement at Wootton Bassett and Wroughton, holidays in Cornwall, canalside walks at Wootton Bassett and celebrations shared for Yvonne and Bill’s golden wedding anniversary in 2000 and his 90th birthday two years ago.

In recalling his life, as his health failed, he said that he had enjoyed a good life, and had no regrets. All who know Bill Byford regret his passing, but are grateful to have known him. The service began with Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major and concluded with Elgar’s Nimrod. Psalm 23 was read by Chris Byford.

The vicar said: “ Bill gave so much in the service of others, and now we celebrate the beginning of his new life with God.”

Memorial donations will be appreciated for The Prospect Hospice, and may be sent c/o Maslin Funeral Service, 118a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 8DT.