A former company director from the Black Country who defused more than 150 bombs and won the George Medal has died aged 96.

Lionel Meynell spent most of his working life at the helm of family firm Meynell & Sons Ltd, latterly known as Meynell Valves.

The father-of-three, who was born in Wolverhampton, also had a distinguished military career, working his way to the rank of major.

During his early life Mr Meynell lived in the family home in Dunstall. He had a passion for golf and hockey and in 1931 he formed The Occasionals Hockey Club.

That year, aged 17, he joined the family firm working in the pattern-making department of the Meynell Foundry. He worked his way up the company, learning production procedures.

Mr Meynell was commissioned in the Territorial Army in 1939 and trained as a bomb disposal officer.  He joined 69 Bomb Disposal Section Royal Engineers and was sent to bomb-hit Coventry.

In 1940 a bomb he was working on detonated, killing a driver and injuring Mr Meynell and two comrades. Despite his injuries, he put the two men on a truck and started driving them to hospital. After 300 yards, Mr Meynell collapsed, but refused to go to hospital until his two colleagues had been taken. He was awarded the George Medal for “conspicuous gallantry” and in 1946 became a Major.

In 1949 he met Patricia, the woman who a year later would become his wife. The couple had three children, Jacqueline now 59, Kate, 58 and Charles, 55 and lived in Claregate, Wolverhampton. Mrs Meynell died in 2008.

During his time at Meynell Valves, he developed thermostatic hot and cold water valves. He retired in 1979 and he his wife moved to Hampshire. The firm employed 300 people in Wolverhampton before it was sold in 1988 to Caradon plc.

His funeral was held on Thursday in Hampshire and daughter Kate said: “His knowledge of world events, inquisitive mind and sharp wit made him charismatic. He was excellent company.”