FATHER-of-three Brian Geoffrey Tuck, who was a postman for 35 years, died at the age of 80 at home in Lamberts, Chippenham, on March 19 after a battle with bladder cancer.

Born on December 25, 1935, in Horfield, Bristol, to parents Maurice and Beatrice, Mr Tuck grew up with an older brother, Cecil, and often had to attend school with a gas mask during the Second World War as the family lived near Filton Airfield.

His first job was working on the gate at the Bristol Aeroplane Company before working for Bristol-based printers Allen Davies.

He was called up for National Service at the age of 18 and was sent to the Wiltshire Regiment, where he remained until he was 21, before moving back to Allen Davis.

After moving through different jobs, including working underground at Copenacre, Westinghouse and the Slaughterford paper mill, he became a postman in the local area where he remained until he retired at the age of 65.

He met his wife, Mary at a pub in Biddestone in 1963 and the couple later married at the Sheldon Road Methodist Church, Chippenham, on September 3, 1966.

The couple moved to Chippenham in 1969 and had three children, Robert, Christopher and Susan.

“He was best known for his humour and jokes,” said Mrs Tuck.

“He was very much into volunteering. He’d been a member of the Red Cross since the 1980s and was a volunteer warden at Chippenham Museum.

“I think it just came naturally to him.”

Mr Tuck had a number of hobbies, including philately, DIY and art.

His funeral will take place at West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington on April 4 from 2.30pm.

Donations can be made to the Royal United Hospital Cancer Unit and the Dorothy House Foundation. Family flowers only.