War hero described as a gent dies at 89

A Second World War veteran who was well-known in the Black Country for his vast collection of military badges has died at the age of 89.

Horace Godwin, who appeared in the Express & Star several times, served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from 1941 to 1946.

Friends and family today described the grandfather-of-three, who lived in Bloxwich, Walsall, as a "true gentleman".

A member of the British Badge Collectors Association, Mr Godwin held several exhibitions in Wolverhampton of his collection of pins.

Among them was a Guards badge, which was around 80 years old.

During his military service, Mr Godwin served in north Africa, Holland and Italy. He said he collected the badges "as a reminder".

On returning to Britain, Mr Godwin, a keen Walsall FC fan, worked as a plumber for Walsall Council before setting up his own business.

He was married to Vera, who died eight years ago. They met when Vera was working as an usher at Hill Top cinema and Mr Godwin offered her a lift home on the back of his motorbike.

Mr Godwin had two children, Barry and Susan. Susan said tributes had been flooding in from people she had told about Mr Godwin's death on February 2.

"All the people I have written to to let them know, the comment I keep getting back is that he was a gentleman. That's what everybody says about my dad. He was a true gentleman, kind and quiet-natured," she said.

His funeral is on February 25 at 12.30pm at Reedswood Methodist Church, in Edward Street, where a standard bearer from the REME is expected.