TONY Perkins (82) of Royal Wootton Bassett, was a witty, sociable, modest, sport-loving member of the local community, whose mobility was limited by failing health in recent years. He died peacefully at home, with his wife and family.

Tony was the only child of his parents who ran a village pub, The Jackal, near Bedford. At 15, he embarked on a Royal Naval career, and after initial training was flown to the Far East to join a ship that supported other vessels in the Korean War; later he received a Korean War medal.

Tony’s mother died when he was 19, and when on leave he shared the home of his cousin Kath and her husband Jim, who showed him great kindness and hospitality.

Tony’s Naval trade was telecommunications, and his family cherishes his copious, meticulously written training records. He excelled in Morse code and at the age of 22 was seconded to the Fleet Air Arm, for four years. He loved the excitement of flying from aircraft carriers. Whilst stationed in Malta, he met a fun loving, sociable Wren, Daphne, who was also in telecommunications. On leave in England, Tony was welcomed warmly into Daphne’s family home at Heddington near Calne, where he became like a brother to her three brothers and two sisters and their other halves. Tony and Daphne were married in 1958.

Daphne returned to civilian life and in 1960 they were posted to Bahrain, where their elder daughter Sarah was born. A second daughter, Louise, arrived when they returned to the land-based HMS Ganges, in Suffolk, where Tony was a Petty Officer and Naval instructor.

His lifelong love of sport - hockey, cricket and tennis - began in the Navy, where he played hockey for his base. In 1963, he left the Navy, and the family settled in Wootton Bassett, where he joined the Sports Association. He worked initially at Daphne’s family’s business, Rimes Coaches, and subsequently bought a lorry and did haulage work. Tony, who loved to travel, later joined Bill Cannon in establishing local agency Cannon Travel, where he worked until he retired in 1996.

Family holidays were great fun, with kite-flying and Tony’s beach sand sculptures of impressive boats. Canal holidays and dinghy sailing reflected an enthusiasm that never left him. The service included the seafarers’ hymn and the poem Sea Fever.