Alfred Fowell helped to liberate Belsen

A veteran of the Normandy landings who helped in the liberation of the Belsen concentration camp has died in Staffordshire aged 102.

Alfred Fowell, who was born and grew up in Rugeley, had retired to the village of Hyde Lea, near Stafford, and lived there independently until falling ill four weeks ago.

He was admitted to Stafford Hospital and died on Saturday at the Manor Nursing home in Hyde Lea Bank where he had spent the last week.

The great-grandfather had attended Rugeley Grammar School before joining the local branch of Lloyds Bank as a clerk. He went on to work at Stafford and Burton upon Trent, retiring from the company 42 years ago.

A former sergeant with the North Staffordshire Regiment, he joined the war effort in 1941, taking part in the Allied invasion of Normandy and arriving at Belsen in 1945. In particular he helped to find homes for hundreds of Polish prisoners in Canada, France and England.

He married a French girl, Madeline, who had moved to Rugeley from Paris before the Second World War. She died 17 years ago. He and his wife were keen painters.

Alfred grew his own vegetables and was also a lifelong stamp collector, often called upon by Sotheby's to help evaluate collections.

In 2008, at the age of 100, he officially launched the first ever Hyde Lea and Coppenhall Village Festival as guest of honour.

He leaves two sons, Pierre, 72, who lives in London, and John, 70, based in Codsall, as well as five grandchildren, one step-grandchild and seven great-grandchildren.

Mr Fowell's funeral will be held on Thursday, April 7, at the Church of St Lawrence in Coppenhall at 2.30pm.