A SALISBURY man who went above and beyond to get a memorial unveiled to two pilots has died.

Gordon Herbert Usher was born on September 28, 1926 in Pewsey. He moved to Salisbury with his family, including his brothers Les and John and sister Joan, in the mid 1930s to 43 Wainalong Road.

In 1939 he joined the Home Guard along with his father and ended his army career in the Guards Regiment.

In his civilian life Gordon was a gas technician. And it was during this time that he met his wife Muriel Churchill, who he married at St Francis Church on December 20, 1947.

He moved from Wainalong Road in the mid 1950s to the Bishopdown estate, which at the time consisted of a solitary house, Gordon's, which he had built. It was his home until his death on May 15, aged 89.

Gordon enjoyed touring, particularly this country, and took many photographs and films of his travels. 

His family said: "At home he much enjoyed listening to music, classical and pop, and he also became an accomplished cook.

"In later years he devoted himself to looking after Muriel when she became unwell, a task, sadly he was unable to complete.

"He still found time in his last three years to complete another task he set himself, namely establishing a memorial to the crew of the Canberra bomber that crashed in Churchill Gardens, narrowly missing houses in the Friary in 1955.

"He saw it unveiled with much ceremony in 2015. We might also see it as a lasting memorial to Gordon himself."

Gordon was instrumental in getting the memorial put in place at Churchill Gardens and set up The Salisbury Airmen Fund to raise the money needed for the commemorative plaque.

The memorial to Squadron Leader Frank Cooke and Flight Lieutenant Philip Hyden was unveiled last October in time to mark the 60th anniversary of the crash, which happened on November 27, 1955.

A special ceremony was held and was attended by the family of Squadron Leader Frank Cooke.

Gordon had been trying to trace the family of Flight Lieutenant Philip Hyden. And before his death he had the breakthrough he was hoping for with the family, who now live in Australia, getting in touch.

His family say Gordon will be greatly missed.

His funeral service is being held today at Salisbury Crematorium.