FAMILY, friends and councillors have paid tribute to a “real gentleman” who has worked tirelessly for the Tidworth and Ludgershall communities.

Dedicated family man and former Ludgershall parish councillor John Newman passed away at his home on Sidbury Circular Road, Tidworth, on January 13 at the age of 83 following a battle with lung cancer.

Born Stanley John Newman in 1932, he was one of four children growing up on Nepaul Road in Tidworth.

He and his sister Dorothy attended the local primary school at the bottom of Station Road before going to Tidworth Down School, now The Wellington Academy.

On leaving school, John became an apprentice upholsterer at EE Roys in Ludgershall then did his National Service with the Royal Artillery where he was posted to Germany.

John and his wife Shirley lived near to each other growing up in Tidworth as children.

They married in 1970 and moved to Perham Crescent in Ludgershall where they brought up their four children, Chris, Steve, Denise and Michelle.

John worked as a television repair and deliveryman at Dickenson’s in Tidworth and was a milkman in Ludgershall before setting up Wiltshire Contractors, the family building business now run by grandson James.

The business took on many local contracts in the area, carrying out building and maintenance work at the local schools for Wiltshire County Council and the Ministry of Defence.

He was a councillor and chairman of Ludgershall Parish Council, conducting extensive work on the Memorial Hall and establishing the cemetery where he is to be buried next week.

Among his other work in the community, John ran Ludgershall Boys’ Club, was a governor at Castledown School and was a member of Tidworth Chamber of Commerce.

“He was a lovely man, he just looked after us all and he was always there for us,” said Shirley, his wife of over 45 years.

John and Shirley enjoyed their garden, holidaying twice a year and spending time with their children, eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, hosting a joint birthday barbecue every year in July.

“He loved family get-togethers,” his daughter Denise said, “he absolutely loved them. There always used to be lots of people, lots of friends.

“He was a very generous man and not just with his money but his time and his love as well.”

Remembering his father, Steve said: “He had time for everybody, he was totally selfless and put everybody before himself. We are all proud he was our dad.”

“He was just the best dad,” Michelle said.

Eldest son Chris added: “He was a real gentleman, an all round good man.”

John’s younger sister Dorothy recalls growing up in Tidworth during the Second World War. The family befriended many of the American soldiers stationed there at that time but a teenage John became such good friends with one soldier that when he was killed he had all his personal effects sent back to Tidworth to him.

“One of the things we used to laugh about,” said Dorothy who lives in Coventry,” was that growing up he always used to have to take me out to play with him.

“We had a lovely childhood and he was a wonderful brother.”

John was a parish councillor when current town council chairman Owen White joined.

He said: “John worked tirelessly for the town as a parish councillor. He was also chairman of the Memorial Hall for many years and was instrumental in developing the Jubilee Gardens."

Town councillor Tony Pickernell added: “He did a lot for the community and the Memorial Hall. He was a friend of mine and the work he has done for the town is second to none, especially in helping to establish the cemetery. “We are all pleased he is coming back to Ludgershall when he is buried.”

The funeral took place at St James’ Church, Ludgershall, today. (Thursday)