Lifelong Melksham man Michael Thomas Escott died on August 4 at Royal United Hospital in Bath aged 79.

Mr Escott, known as Mike, was born in 1933 and grew up in New Road, Melksham, and attended Sandridge School.

He married childhood friend Rosemary in 1953 at St Andrew’s Church in Melksham and signed up to join the army. Unfortunately in February 1954 he was involved in a car accident while stationed in Germany, sustaining serious injuries which left him paralysed for a time.

His injuries affected his health for the rest of his life, but he was able to recover sufficiently to work as a machinist and later a storeman at Dowty in Atworth.

He and Rosemary had five children, three sons and two daughters, and had 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mrs Escott said: “He was a big family man. He was quite a private person, but he was funny at times. He was very brave with what he put up with.

“He devoted his life to his children, and the grandchildren and then great-grandchildren. He loved gardening and had a greenhouse at Snarlton Lane until it was too much for him. He loved football and Liverpool FC was his team.”

Mr Escott’s funeral will take place on Monday at 2pm at St Andrew’s Church, Melksham. Family flowers only, donations if desired to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.