FIREFIGHTERS formed a guard of honour as family, friends, local dignitaries and the military remembered a stalwart of the Ludgershall community at his funeral last week.

Tributes were paid to Alderman Kenneth Raymond Frank Beard MBE at St James’ Church on Thursday following his death from pneumonia just weeks before his 92nd birthday.

Representatives from the Royal Navy and the Fire and Rescue Service attended the funeral along with MP Claire Perry, local councillors and a Royal Marine bugler to say a fond farewell to the decorated great-grandfather who served the town as a retained firefighter, councillor and school governor for more than 30 years.

Mr Beard was born at 4 Lansdowne Villas in Ludgershall in 1925 where he grew up, attending Ludgershall Primary School.

Aged just 14-and-a-half he joined the Royal Navy shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War in October 1939.

He was discovered to be underage and sent back to Britain for his own safety where he was put on fire watch over Southampton docks just as The Blitz struck.

On coming of age he was assigned to HMS La Malouine where he served on the Atlantic, Russian and Malta Convoys.

Returning to Ludgershall after the war he worked as a baker in the NAAFI where he met his wife Enid.

They married in St James’ Church in 1947 then lived in a metal hut in Tin Town, the former prisoner of war camp in Ludgershall, opposite the present site of The Wellington Academy, for three years.

During that time their daughter Gillian was born and then they moved to Perham Crescent, where their sons were born in the living room there – Neil in 1955 and Dale seven years later.

Mr Beard set up his own bakery in Ludgershall as well as working as a retained firefighter.

The business was later destroyed by fire but he continued cake decorating into his 80s, working at Burbidge’s Bakery during his retirement.

Following the fire he was employed by EE Roy, the furniture company in Ludgershall, where he became general manager.

Mr Beard was a councillor, and chairman for a time, on Ludgershall Parish Council and a councillor on Kennet District Council for 22 years.

He served as a retained firefighter for more than 30 years, becoming station officer at Ludgershall Fire Station, and was a governor of Castledown School. He was an assistant scout master and also helped with the planning of the play school in the grounds of Castle Primary School.

In 1994 he was honoured with an MBE for his longstanding community service.

Last summer a ceremony was held in Ludgershall where Mr Beard was awarded Honorary Freedom of the Town by the town council.