A WANTAGE man awarded the MBE for his work in the court service has passed away, aged 91.

Ken Leach’s death on February 2 has been described as “the loss of one of the most active volunteers” in the town.

Mr Leach, left, who was born in Swindon moved to Wantage in 1931. He left school at 14 to work for a solicitor in the town.

Called up in 1941, he served as an RAF wireless operator in India, Burma and Malaya.

After the war he became deputy clerk to the Justices at Newbury and Wantage, a post he held until his retirement.

He was secretary of the Wantage Carnival Committee for the 1951 Festival of Britain celebrations.

In 1955 he married Margaret Taylor, from Didcot, who died in 1975. They are survived by a daughter, Cathy, and a grandson.

Following his wife’s death Mr Leach became more involved with his work, and in 1983 was elected president of the Association of Magisterial Officers.

He served on the Home Office Training Committee for Magisterial Staff, and in 1984 was awarded the MBE in recognition of his service.

After retiring in 1984 he worked for 14 years as a volunteer at the Wantage Community Information Centre, and served for a number of years as its chairman.

He was branch secretary of the Wantage RBL until 1998, organising the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and service, and was branch president until his death.

He was also an active bellringer for many years at Wantage parish church, SS Peter and Paul.

In his work and volunteering, he was content to work behind the scenes as far as possible, and took for his motto that of the RBL, “Service not Self”.

A friend, Jack Loftin, said: “Ken’s death sees the loss of one of the most active volunteers in Wantage in the post war years. “ His funeral is at noon tomorrow, at the church.

Donations are invited to the British Legion Poppy Appeal.