TRIBUTES have been paid to Wantage’s first town mayor John Humphries, who has died aged 82.

Mr Humphries was also a keen pilot and was still flying with the Spitfire Club at Popham, Hampshire, until earlier this year.

Mr Humphries, who died on November 13, became the first town mayor when the town council was formed in 1974, and held the post until 1976.

He was born on February 6, 1930, in Radley.

After leaving Southfield School, Oxford, he joined Morris Motors’ radiators branch in 1947, and served an engineering apprenticeship, attending technical college.

He learnt to fly during his national service.

In 1952, he married Elizabeth and they had three children, Linda, Jane and Alan.

In July 1957, he joined the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell, where he worked as a mechanical engineer.

After living in Oxford for 27 years, he moved to Wantage in 1963 and joined the Wantage Urban District Council in 1966.

Wantage town councillor John Amys said: “He was a quiet man but very efficient.

“He was a gentleman, and a good flyer.”