JAN Nicolai Szytko, who lived and worked in Calne before he moved to America 37 years ago, has died at the age of 82.

He was the husband of Elena Szytko.

Mr Szytko was born in November 1923 in Nikiszowiec, Poland, son of the late Vincenty and Bronislawa Sitko.

He received a chemistry degree in Poland and then served in the Polish Army during the Second World War, stationed in Italy under the British command.

After the war he came to live in Calne and worked at the former Fynamore School as a chemistry teacher.

He spent more than 20 years in England before moving to Connecticut with his wife and eldest daughter in 1969.

He met Elena when she came to England in the early 1960s from Italy and they married in the old Roman Catholic church next to the new St Edmunds RC church on Oxford Road in Calne in 1963.

Mr Szytko had many friends in Wiltshire and kept in touch with them right up to the end. He last visited Calne eight years ago.

He played the violin in an orchestra and was broadcast on radio.

He worked as a chemist at Mattatuck Manufacturing and Teleflex from 1969 until his retirement in 1988.

Besides his wife of 43 years, he leaves two daughters Alexandra and Mary Jane, both of Connecticut; two brothers Alojz and Paul Sitko, both of Poland; a sister Hedwiga Franzow of Germany and seven grandchildren.

His funeral took place on May 5.