Friends and family have expressed sadness at the loss of Crowmarsh man Reginald James Kimber, who passed away on March 30, aged 89.

Mr Kimber, known as Reg, was born on February 10, 1918, in Cholsey and spent his whole life in the area.

He and his younger brother Stan attended school in Cholsey before leaving to go and work in a local grocery store.

In 1938 he went to work for Wilder's Foundry in Crowmarsh, where he became a highly valued craftsman, doing his bit for the war effort by making parts for tanks.

Being a skilled craftsman he was unable to enlist, so he joined the Home Guard.

In 1942 he married Florence Whitehorn, and they moved to the Park View estate and had one son, Ray.

Mr Kimber never owned a car and became known by everyone in the village as he made his way round on his bicycle.

His daughter-in-law, Ruth, said: "He didn't like to leave the area. He was a very local, country person and he became known by everyone who would see him cycling around."

Mr Kimber worked at the foundry until he was 65, but his retirement was shortlived when Wilder's realised that they could not find anyone to replace him.

He carried on working a couple of days a week and worked there well into his seventies.

In 1980, Mr Kimber's wife passed away, but in 1986 he celebrated the birth of his first grandchild, Clare, and in 1990 grandson Thomas arrived.

Because of his love of sport, the music from Grandstand and Match Of The Day were played at his funeral.