A FORMER district councillor and a “most loving and loyal” husband, father and grandfather has died.

Brian Dawson, of Eckington, passed away at home on August 1 and is survived by his wife Muriel, his children Christopher, Anne and Jane, and his grandchildren Alice, Penny, Matthew, Jessica and Hannah.

Born Eric Brian Dawson in Bradford on February 18, 1928, Mr Dawson relocated with his family to south Wales at the age of three and went to Newport High School for Boys.

He went on to read French, German and English at Bristol University and also enjoyed considerable success with the athletics team.

Mr Dawson served as an officer in the Intelligence Corps of the RAF based in Germany and took part in the Berlin Airlift.

His first job was with the printing and accounts firm Kalamazoo in Birmingham.

From there he represented the export department, travelling to Kenya, Sri Lanka and India where he learned to play bridge. He played rugby for a team of British colonials and after an injury ended his rugby playing days, he learned to play golf.

Home from his travels in February 1958, he met and married Muriel. Their first home was in Rubery, Birmingham, where a son and two daughters were born.

Mr Dawson later joined Kidderminster Carpets as export sales director and continued to travel across the world, being particularly successful in Japan where his counterparts enjoyed his gifts of golf balls and whisky.

Mr Dawson accepted a job in Sydney in 1969 and the family moved to Australia, for three years before moving back to England and settling in Great Comberton.

In 1978, Mr Dawson was presented with the Queen’s Award for Services to Export and attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

The family moved to Eckington when he took early retirement and he was a founder member of Eckington Bridge Club.

Mr Dawson was also a member of the church PCC, serving as secretary and treasurer, and helped organise three historical street fairs in the village to raise church funds. He was district councillor for Eckington, Defford and Besford, serving on planning and finance committees, and helped many residents in the villages for many years.

His funeral was held on August 20 at Holy Trinity Church, Eckington.