FORMER Trowbridge mayor Arthur Ransom died on February 17 aged 89.

Mr Ransom was born on June 30, 1926 in Leeds where his father was employed as a driver for the London and North Eastern Railway.

The family moved to Manchester when he was eight, when his father died, moving into a house overlooking Manchester United’s practice ground in Salford where his life-long following of the team began.

He sang in the cathedral choir and when war broke out he was evacuated to Fleetwood. When he was 14 his formal schooling ended and he returned to Manchester where he worked as a telegram boy. Despite being evacuated he was in every air-raid on the city.

Whilst working at the Post Office in Manchester Mr Ransom met his future wife Hilda, who was a telephonist there. When he was 18 he joined the Merchant Navy as a Radio Officer and sailed on the Atlantic convoys, and also to Egypt.

The couple married in March 1946 and their first son, John, was born later that year. Mr Ransom joined the Ministry of Defence and the family went on a tour of duty to Germany in the 1950s.

During the stay in Germany their second son, Stephen, was born. Mr Ransom later joined the local operatic society and performed in the chorus of The Mikado and HMS Pinafore.

The family moved to Devizes where their daughter, Patricia was born. This was a period of great flux for the family – they spent 12 successive Christmases in 12 different houses.

Mr Ransom then went to work at Worthy Down in Hampshire and the family moved to Littleton where their fourth child, Helen was born and shortly after, he was again sent on a tour of duty to Germany where he worked on the first computers used by the MoD.

The family returned to England in 1969, settling in Trowbridge and Arthur went to work in Bath. Only a few years later, he applied for a tour of duty in Malta where he, Mrs Ransom and their two daughters moved in 1975.

He was the island’s Defence Accounts Officer and was responsible for all the money that the MoD spent in Malta. When the British handed Malta back to the Maltese in 1979 the couple left the island.

They returned to Trowbridge and Mr Ransom led some of the monthly evening services that were held in St James’ church hall for a period of about 12 months.

He retired from the MoD in 1986 and was moved to help disabled people, especially those with special needs, first as a volunteer driver and later as an adult worker at the Adult Training Centre.

Over the next 25 years he served on the management boards of several registered charities, including the Monday Wednesday Club, Carers Support West Wilts, and a member of the committee for Bridge House.

For two years he served on the Joint Consultative Committee for West Wilts District Council, advising on the allocation of funds administered jointly by social services and the health authority. In 2005/06 he became mayor of Trowbridge.

In 2009 that Mr Ransom moved to Raleigh Court and throughout his life he enjoyed good health until his heart attack in 2012 which is when he moved into a care home in 2013 near to two of his children.

He was often visited by his 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren whose visits he very much enjoyed.

The family are planning to hold a service of thanksgiving for his life, which will be held at St James’ Church on a date to be arranged, when they hope to welcome his many friends and former colleagues.