Mr Leslie Davis FORMER serviceman Leslie Davis, who was always known as Les, died at his home in Corsham from heart failure on Monday, after suffering with a chest infection and low blood pressure.

Mr Davis was born in Peckham, London, and after leaving school joined the Royal Air Force. This brought him to Corsham where he met his wife Maude Pillett, who was working as a maid at Ivy House, where the Methuen family lived.

They had a whirlwind romance in 1941 and, only a few weeks after meeting, they were married on November 26.

The couple went to live with her mother on Quarry Hill, Box, before moving to Queen’s Avenue, Corsham, where they had their first son Richard, now 66, adopting their second son, Peter, six years later. During this time Mr Davis worked as an electrician for the Ministry of Work.

He was well known around Corsham for his years as a Betterware salesman, when he cycled all over the town delivering catalogues and orders. He also ran a market stall in Trowbridge with his wife when he was in his 60s, selling bric-a-brac.

The family moved to Methuen Avenue in the early 1960s and after three years moved to Methuen Way where the couple lived with their son Peter until Mrs Davis’ death in 2003.

Mr Davis was an active member of Corsham Civic Society and Corsham Twinning Society as well as the RAF Association and a local camera club. He was the association’s vice-chairman for 20 years and was made a life president last year.

His funeral will be held at the West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington, on April 8 at 1pm. His family have requested that, instead of flowers, donations should be made in his memory to the Royal Air Force Association, via Merrett Funeral Directors, Corsham.