Keen bowls player Cyril Tryner, 83, of Melksham, died peacefully at his home on April 21, after suffering for many years with breathing problems.

Mr Tryner was born in 1926 and grew up in Newcastle-under-Lyme with his parents George and Elizabeth and his brother and sister Doreen and Tom.

After leaving school he worked at the Wedgewood China factory before joining the army aged 17.

He served in Norway during the Second World War before returning to a base in Bromham where he met his wife Marion.

They first met when he was 19 and she was a 16-year-old helping out at a small canteen where soldiers went to have a cup of tea in the evening.

Mr Tryner also served in Germany before being discharged in 1947. The couple married in 1949 in Bromham Church and lived with Mrs Tryner’s mother for four years while they were on the waiting list for a council house in Melksham.

In 1953 they moved to the town, and Mr Tryner worked in Spencers factory for ten years before going to Avon Rubber.

Mrs Tryner stayed at home and looked after their three children Roger, Carolyn and Phillip. When they got older she worked at the Spar.

The couple both took early retirement due to health problems but enjoyed going on cruises on the QE2, and sailed on her five times. Mr Tryner also spent his spare time playing bowls and was a member of Avon Bowls Club for 25 years before he had to give up the sport due to illness.

The couple had six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held at West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington, on Wednesday, May 6 at 12.15pm. His family have asked for donations to the asthma clinic at the RUH in Bath instead of flowers.